MAKING 


THE 

AMERICAN 
THOROUGHBRED 


JAMES  DOUGLAS  ANDERSON 


MAKING   THE   AMERICAN 
THOROUGHBRED 


"Every  age  and  every  nation  has  certain  characteristic  vices,  which 
prevail  almost  universally,  which  scarcely  any  person  scruples  to  avow, 
and  which  even  rigid  moralists  but  faintly  censure.  Succeeding  genera- 
tions change  the  fashion  of  their  morals,  with  the  fashion  of  their  bats 
and  their  coaches;  take  some  other  kind  of  wickedness  under  their  pat- 
ronage, and  wonder  at  the  depravity  of  their  ancestors."  —  MACAULAY. 


"//  /  were  to  begin  life  again,  I  would  go  on  the  turf  to  get  friends. 
They  seem  to  me  the  only  people  who  bold  close  together.  I  don't  know 
why;  it  may  be  that  each  knows  something  that  might  bang  the  other, 
but  the  effect  is  delightful  and  most  peculiar."  —  HARRIET,  LADY 

ASHBURTON,    tO   LORD   HOUGHTON. 


GREAT  BRITAIN 

Foaled,  1910,  at  Edenwold  Stud  which  embraces  part  of  the 
Donelson  farm  where  Grey  Medley  first  stood  in  Middle  Tennessee, 
in  1800.  A  modern  illustration  of  the  thoroughbred  made  by 
long  established  methods  set  forth  in  the  succeeding  pages.  See 
pages  94,  287. 


MAKING  THE  AMERICAN 
THOROUGHBRED;,, 

Especially  in  Tennessee,  1800-1845 

BY 

JAMES   DOUGLAS  ANDERSON 


INCLUDING 

REMINISCENCES    OF    THE   TURF 


BY 

BALIE   PEYTON 

WITH   NOTES  BY   THE   AUTHOR 


PRINTED    BY 

THE    PLIMPTON    PRESS,  NORWOOD,  MASS. 
1916 


COPYRIGHT,   1916,  BY 
JAMES  DOUGLAS  ANDERSON 


PRINTED  FOR   THE   AUTHOR 

BY  THE  PLIMPTON  PRESS, 

NORWOOD,   MASS. 


TO 

MR.  WALTER  O.  FARMER 

WHOSE   GENEROUS   ASSISTANCE 
MAKES   POSSIBLE 

THIS  BOOK 

IT  IS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED 


69GS1 1 


THIS  BOOK  AND  BALIE  PEYTON 

THE  original  purpose  of  this  volume  was  to  show  the 
extent  to  which  the  raising  and  racing  of  thoroughbreds 
was  carried  on  in  Tennessee  during  the  first  half  century, 
or  more,  of  the  State's  existence. 

Investigation  developed  that  the  breeding  and  turf 
interests  of  Tennessee  were  so  interwoven  with  these 
interests  in  other  states,  the  scope  of  the  volume  had  to 
be  enlarged  to  the  point  indicated  by  the  title. 

Most  books  about  thoroughbreds  of  the  period  con- 
sidered here  are  devoted  chiefly  to  the  science  of  breeding 
and  methods  of  training  and  to  the  physical  well-being 
of  the  horse,  and  are  of  interest  only  to  horsemen.  This 
volume  endeavors  to  emphasize  the  effect  that  all  these 
theories  and  experiments  had  on  the  customs  and  habits 
of  the  people. 

The  labor  system,  the  code  duello,  the  religious  camp- 
meetings  and  the  open-house  hospitality,  of  the  "ante- 
bellum" South  have  all  been  given  their  just  share  of 
attention  by  historians.  But  the  origin,  growth  and  ex- 
tent of  the  thoroughbred  industry  have  not,  as  far  as  I 
have  observed,  received  any  consideration  whatever  by 
any  book  purporting  to  treat  of  life  in  any  Southern  state. 

In  this  volume  will  be  found  material  upon  which  the 
historian  of  the  future  may  base  a  chapter  on  "The 
America  of  Sir  Archy,"  or  "The  Tennessee  of  Leviathan," 
that  will  rival  in  interest  Green's  chapter  on  "The  Eng- 
land of  Shakespeare."  In  the  absence  of  available  facts 


viii  This  Book  and  Balie  Peyton 

to  support  such  a  chapter  it  would  not  be  credited.  Hence 
the  details. 

In  all  the  literature  of  the  period  under  consideration 
it  appears  that  the  then  widespread  interest  in  the  thor- 
oughbred was  largely  due  to  the  generally  known  record 
of  distinguished  ancestors,  both  in  America  and  England, 
on  the  race  course,  and  in  the  stud.  It  is,  therefore,  nec- 
essary, in  order  to  know  the  thoroughbred  as  our  ante- 
bellum forefathers  knew  him,  to  present  him  not  alone 
as  an  individual,  separate  and  apart  from  others,  but  as 
the  representative  of  a  line  running  back  through  many 
years  of  honorable  achievement.  Both  the  subject  matter 
and  the  index  have  been  prepared  with  special  reference 
to  this  point;  and  the  accomplishments  of  all  the  prin- 
cipal progenitors  in  America  and  England,  of  almost  every 
horse  named  in  this  volume,  may  be  easily  ascertained  and 
the  meaning  of  a  pedigree  fully  understood.  Interest  in 
these  pedigrees  will  be  enhanced  by  the  illustrations  of 
noted  foundation  sires,  among  which  the  most  prominent 
American  families  of  the  post-Revolutionary  and  later 
periods  are  fairly  represented. 

In  the  matter  of  pedigrees  I  have  consulted  Weath- 
erby's  English  Stud  Book,  Joseph  Osborne's  (English) 
Hand  Book  and  Breeder's  Guide;  and  American  Stud 
Books  by  Edgar,  Skinner,  Wallace  and  Bruce;  also  cer- 
tificates contained  in  advertisements  not  accessible  to  any 
of  these  authors.  All  the  material  differences  found  in 
the  statements  of  pedigrees  in  these  publications  are  duly 
noted.  By  using  the  same  source  of  information  —  news- 
paper advertisements  —  from  which  hundreds  of  ancient 
pedigrees  have  been  collected  into  stud  books,  I  have 
added  to  the  list  of  stallions  that  stood  in  Tennessee 
many  names  not  mentioned  in  any  other  volume.  The 
body  of  the  book,  I  think,  will  show  the  extraordinary 


This  Book  and  Balie  Peyton  ix 

care  I  have  taken  to  avoid  errors,  which  the  duplication 
of  names  and  the  mistakes  of  other  writers  make  it  al- 
most impossible  to  escape. 

Whatever  may  be  the  demerits  of  the  book  I  claim  for 
it  the  fruits  of  original  investigation.  No  one  of  the  six 
stories  I  have  written  is  in  any  sense  a  re-hash  of  any 
other  account  in  any  publication  similar  to  this.  In  col- 
lecting material  I  have  been  rendered  great  assistance  by 
many  persons  in  various  sections  of  the  Union,  to  all  of 
whom  I  express  my  deepest  gratitude.  Among  this  num- 
ber are  Capt.  B.  M.  Hord,  Maj.  George  B.  Guild,  Hon. 
J.  W.  Byrns,  Dr.  John  M.  Bass,  and  Messrs.  Percy 
Kinnaird,  John  H.  DeWitt,  W.  E.  Beard,  R.  C.  Brien, 
Robert  Dyas,  M.  L.  Lewis,  Clark  Kirkman,  Franc  M. 
Bath,  John  Donelson,  and  Calvert  Brothers,  photogra- 
phers, all  of  Nashville;  Dr.  J.  C.  Baker,  Col.  J.  B.  Malone 
and  Mr.  Harry  Franklin,  of  Sumner  County;  Mr.  Dun- 
can Kenner  Brent,  of  Baltimore;  Mr.  James  P.  Needham, 
of  Washington,  D.C. ;  and  Messrs.  H.  M.  Lydenberg  and 
V.  E.  Schaumburg  of  New  York.  Mr.  C.  R.  Kilvington, 
of  Nashville,  and  Mr.  B.  A.  Rowe  of  the  Plimpton  Press, 
have  been  of  valuable  aid  in  advising  as  to  the  details  of 
manufacture.  There  is  one  other  whose  influence  is  most 
manifest  by  what  does  not  appear  in  the  book;  but  for 
fear  that  what  remains  of  my  inferior  capabilities  should 
be  accepted  as  the  full  measure  of  her  judgment  and 
superior  attainments  it  is  perhaps  best  that  I  should  not 
call  her  name. 

Of  Hon.  Balie  Peyton,  whose  pen  and  predilections  for 
the  turf  have  given  to  this  volume  many  interesting  fea- 
tures, it  is  appropriate  that  I  should  speak.  The  record 
of  his  public  services  has  been  written  in  several  books 
and  need  not  be  followed  here  in  detail.  He  was  lawyer, 
orator,  diplomat,  statesman,  patriot,  soldier,  breeder  and 


x  This  Book  and  Balie  Peyton 

turfman.  His  most  notable  gift  was  that  for  public 
speaking;  his  most  prominent  traits  integrity,  affability, 
courage  and  kindness;  his  strongest  passion  love  of 
country;  next  to  that,  love  of  a  race  horse;  and  next 
to  that,  love  of  a  horse  race. 

In  his  first  campaign  for  Congress  he  practically  won 
his  election  by  his  opening  speech;  at  the  end  of  his 
second  term,  in  1837,  he  voluntarily  retired;  and  although 
he  was  but  34  years  old  he  had  distinguished  himself 
throughout  the  Union  as  an  orator,  and  as  a  leader,  bold 
in  initiative  and  inflexible  in  execution.  Personally, 
there  was  not  a  more  popular  man  of  his  day. 

In  dedicating  one  of  his  publications  to  Peyton,  J.  S. 
Skinner  said  of  him:  "He  is  in  his  own  spirit  and  char- 
acter exemplary  of  what  is  best  and  most  excellent  in 
men." 

"Few  lives,"  wrote  one  of  his  fellow  townsmen,  "have 
exhibited  more  of  the  excellencies  of  human  character  and 
fewer  short  comings  than  did  the  life  of  Balie  Peyton." 

"He  had  a  richly  gifted  intellect,"  wrote  another  of 
his  contemporaries,  "but  his  heart  seemed  always  greater 
and  deeper  than  his  mind.  Free  from  all  jealousy,  he 
gloried  in  the  triumphs  of  his  political  and  personal  asso- 
ciates and  was  always  exuberant  in  heralding  their  achieve- 
ments, while  apparently  forgetting  his  own."  In  his 
"Reminiscences"  he  did  not  exploit  his  own  achieve- 
ments, and  turf  literature  is  much  the  poorer  by  his 
modesty. 

In  several  Presidential  campaigns  his  talents  for  public 
speaking  and  statesmanship  were  drafted  into  service  in 
many  states  North  and  South. 

In  New  Orleans,  he  was  made  President  of  one  of  the 
Jockey  Clubs.  Four  Presidents  of  the  United  States,  by 
tendering  him  appointments,  attested  to  his  character 


This  Book  and  Balie  Peyton  xi 

and  ability.  Tyler  asked  him  to  become  Secretary  of 
War,  but  the  position  was  not  to  his  liking.  When  war 
came  with  Mexico,  however,  he  did  not  wait  to  be  asked 
to  go  to  the  field  of  action.  There  he  became  Chief  of 
Staff  of  Gen.  W.  J.  Worth,  after  his  own  regiment  of 
Louisiana  and  Alabama  men  had  been  recalled  by  Presi- 
dent Polk.  At  Monterey  it  became  necessary  for  Gen. 
Worth  to  communicate  with  General  Taylor  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  city,  and  Peyton  was  chosen  for  this  errand. 
Mounted  on  a  thoroughbred  by  imp  Fop,  presented  to 
him  by  his  friend,  Lucius  J.  Polk,  Peyton,  though  con- 
tinually under  fire,  his  horse  bounding  at  the  bursting  of 
each  shell  near  him,  performed  the  trip  at  a  dead  run  and 
in  safety.  For  this  and  other  acts  showing  his  courage 
and  efficiency  he  was  favorably  mentioned  in  Gen. 
Worth's  reports  and  was  voted  a  sword  of  honor  by  the 
State  of  Louisiana.  With  modesty  and  true  sportsman- 
ship he  always  credited  the  success  of  his  trip  to  his  horse. 
In  March,  1837,  after  the  adjournment  of  Congress, 
Peyton  came  home  by  way  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  his 
purpose  in  going  there  being  to  see  Priam  who  had  just 
arrived  from  England.  From  Nut  Bush,  North  Carolina, 
he  wrote  The  Spirit  of  the  Times  an  account  of  this  trip. 
On  the  way  out  to  the  farm  where  he  thought  Priam  was, 
he  met  a  stranger,  whom  he  felt  convinced  was  the  man 
he  was  on  his  way  to  see.  He  "inquired  and  it  turned  out 
to  be  so,  which  proves  that  one  thoroughbred  horseman 
will  know  another,  as  Falstaff  knew  the  true  Prince." 
Peyton  introduced  himself,  only  to  learn  that  Priam  was 
at  the  Half- Way  House,  between  Richmond  and  Peters- 
burg. Back  to  Richmond  he  went  and  in  half  an  hour  was 
on  his  way  to  the  Half-Way  House.  Upon  reaching 
Priam's  stable,  "I  approached,"  he  said,  "and  while  the 
door  was  unlocking  felt  that  painful  anxiety,  arising  from 
the  apprehension  of  disappointment,  —  of  not  realizing 


xii  This  Book  and  Balie  Peyton 

those  expectations  which  we  feel  on  being  ushered  for 
the  first  time  into  the  presence  of  the  great  —  of  those 
of  whom  we  have  read  and  heard.  But  the  first  impres- 
sion was  a  pleasing  relief  from  all  such  fearful  forebod- 
ings. Priam  is  a  rare  instance  of  a  great  name  bearing 
acquaintance  without  losing  *  the  enchantment  which  dis- 
tance lends.'  How  few  great  men  there  are  of  whom  this 
can  be  said!  No  judge  of  form  who  saw  him  would  wish 
to  go  to  books  and  racing  calendars  to  learn  his  superior- 
ity as  a  race  horse.  There  it  is  before  you  —  a  plain  case 
—  written  in  old  English  characters  too  legibly  to  be  mis- 
understood." After  discussing  at  length  the  many  points 
of  merit  in  the  horse  Peyton  closed  his  communication 
thus:  "In  fine  I  can  say  that  taking  him  all  in  all  I  have 
never  looked  upon  his  like  before  and  never  may  again, 
unless  he  is  destined  to  leave  a  son  who  will  — 

'  Rise  the  Hector  of  the  future  age, 

So,  when  triumphant  from  successful  toils, 

Of  heroes  slain,  he  bears  the  reeking  spoils, 

Whole  hosts  may  hail  him  with  deserved  acclaim, 

And  say  this  chief  transcends  his  father's  name.' 

"This  fellow  I  mean  to  rear  myself,  and  to  silence  all 
dispute  I  claim  the  name  in  advance:  Hector  b.c.,  got  by 

Priam,  out  of ;  raised  by  yours, 

"P.ofT." 

This  resolution  Peyton  did  not  forget  three  years  later 
when  he  named  his  entries  in  the  Peyton  Stake. 

After  leaving  Congress  in  1837,  Peyton  was  absent 
from  Tennessee,  except  on  occasional  visits,  until  1859. 
During  all  that  time  he  kept  up  his  thoroughbred  busi- 
ness, under  the  management  of  his  brothers,  Holmes  and 
"Ran";  after  they  died,  his  son,  Balie,  assisted  by  Judge 
Thomas  Barry,  looked  after  the  horses. 


This  Book  and  Balie  Peyton  xiii 

During  the  war,  when  the  master  himself  had  control, 
he  heard  the  Federals  were  headed  his  way,  and  he  knew 
what  their  coming  would  mean  to  four  of  his  highly 
prized  colts.  Removing  the  furniture  and  carpet  from 
the  dining  room,  and  putting  in  a  thick  layer  of  straw, 
he  had  the  colts  led  in,  the  doors  locked  and  the  window- 
blinds  barred.  In  this  way  he  saved  them  from  the  ma- 
rauders, but  they  got  his  favorite  brood  mare,  Noty 
Price,  by  Cost  Johnson,  son  of  Boston.  One  of  these 
colts,  Blacklock,  afterwards  distinguished  himself. 

Because  of  his  opposition  to  secession  and  his  neutral- 
ity during  the  war,  Peyton  was  able  to  render  valuable 
services  to  his  Sumner  County  friends  by  standing  as  a 
strong  rock  between  them  and  the  Federal  General, 
Payne.  Among  others,  his  neighbor,  Rev.  B.  F.  Ferrill, 
of  the  M.  E.  Church,  South,  was  released  from  jail  through 
his  instrumentalities.  One  who  was  present  when  Peyton 
called  on  Payne  in  behalf  of  an  excellent  woman  who  had 
appealed  to  him  for  protection,  is  authority  for  the  state- 
ment that  if  Payne  had  not  then  yielded  to  Peyton's 
demand  for  the  woman's  release,  there  would  have  been 
no  diplomatic  postponement  of  affirmative  action  on  his 
part. 

In  1869-70  Sumner  County  sent  Col.  Peyton  to  the 
State  Senate,  to  use  his  influence  in  bringing  order  out  of 
chaos.  Later  he  took  an  active  part  in  promoting  the 
Philadelphia  Exposition  of  1876,  confident  that  it  would 
tend  to  obliterate  sectional  animosities.  Perhaps  his 
last  public  address  was  delivered  by  invitation  before  the 
Tennessee  legislature  in  furtherance  of  this  patriotic 
movement. 

Col.  Peyton  had  now  passed  threescore  years  and  ten 
and  the  sand  in  his  glass  was  running  low.  The  passing 
of  the  old  order  had  brought  new  alignments  in  political, 


xiv  This  Book  and  Balie  Peyton 

legal  and  business  circles;  new  problems  that  demanded 
the  best  energies  of  younger  men  who  must  need  build 
for  the  future.  This  is  the  heaviest  penalty  age  has  to 
endure.  Others  had  paid  it  to  Peyton,  and  now  when 
younger  men  exacted  it  of  him,  he  yielded  with  good  na- 
ture and  becoming  grace.  And  it  would  seem,  that  dur- 
ing all  the  years  of  his  absence  in  other  lands  he  had  not 
forgotten  that  the  time  would  come  when,  in  the  race 
with  younger  competitors,  he  would  have  to  pull  up 
outside  the  distance  and  retire.  At  any  rate,  it  was  his 
good  fortune,  such  as  comes  to  but  few  men,  to  spend  his 
declining  years  amidst  the  scenes  of  his  earliest  associa- 
tions. Followed  always  by  a  pack  of  hounds,  he  walked, 
or  rode  his  favorite  saddler,  a  gray,  through  the  fields 
and  woodlands  where  for  nearly  half  a  century  his  horses 
had  grazed;  and  here  he  dwelt  with  pleasant  retrospec- 
tion on  their  qualities  and  the  incidents  they  had  brought 
into  his  life. 

Pupils  who  attended  his  daughter's  school  at  Station 
Camp  at  this  period  still  retain  vivid  recollections  of  the 
kindness  and  consideration  that  convinced  them  that  Col. 
Peyton  was  the  greatest  man  in  the  world. 

But  there  were  stronger  ties  than  these  that  bound 
Peyton  to  this  land  which  his  father,  a  Revolutionary 
soldier,  had  won  from  the  savage.  It  was  his  birthplace, 
his  first  play  ground.  It  was  here  that  he  first  heard  the 
stories  of  Revolutionary  and  Settlers'  wars,  that  fired  his 
young  heart  with  a  desire  to  serve  his  country.  Here  he 
had  lived  the  first  years  of  his  married  life;  here  his 
children  had  spent  their  infancy;  and  here,  after  his  elec- 
tions to  Congress,  he  had  received  the  plaudits  of  admir- 
ing friends. 

But  the  old  home  place  was  not  without  its  sorrow- 
laden  memories.  Here,  on  Christmas  Day,  a  young 


This  Book  and  Balie  Peyton  xv 

daughter  had  met  a  violent  death.  Here  he  had  pre- 
sented to  young  Balie  the  Louisiana  sword,  and  had  bid 
him  farewell  and  gazed  after  him  with  tear  bedimmed 
eyes  as  he  rode  away  to  join  the  Confederate  army,  never 
to  return.  Thoughts  of  these  events  were  ever  in  his 
mind,  but  they  only  tightened  the  cords  that  bound  him 
to  Station  Camp.  It  was,  indeed,  good  fortune  that  he, 
the  last  leaf  upon  a  tree,  should  fall  on  soil  consecrated 
by  cherished  recollections  of  the  past.  In  midsummer, 
when  the  harvest  was  ripe,  he  was  cut  down,  and  his 
friends  and  neighbors  who  loved  him  because  he  was  a 
good  man,  came  and  put  him  away  under  the  sod  over 
which  he  had  played  when  a  barefoot  boy. 

J.    D.   A. 

MADISON,  Davidson  County,  Tennessee. 
February  6,  igi6. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.   SPEAKING  GENERALLY i 

II.   ENGLISH  ARISTOCRATS 18 

III.  FIRST  FAMILIES  OF  VIRGINIA 30 

IV.  HARDY  TENNESSEE  PIONEERS 42 

V.   KNEE  DEEP  IN  CLOVER 66 

VI.   SUMNER  COUNTY,  BREEDING  CENTRE 96 

VII.   TENNESSEE  AND  NORTH  ALABAMA 114 

VIII.  GETTING  THEIR  MONEY  BACK 129 

STORIES  OF  EIGHT  FAMOUS  RACES: 

AMERICAN  ECLIPSE  vs.  HENRY      151 

POST  BOY  vs.  JOHN  BASCOMBE 164 

ANGORA  vs.  RODOLPH      i?5 

THE  LEVIATHANS  vs.  THE  LUZBOROUGHS  AND  OTHERS  ...  184 

THE  PEYTON  STAKE 194 

FASHION  vs.  PEYTONA 208 

THE  RACE  OF  THE  OLD  KING 219 

A  DIPLOMAT  IN  PIGSKIN 224 

REMINISCENCES  OF  THE  TURF   (PEYTON): 

I.   GREEN  BERRY  WILLIAMS  BEGINS  His  CAREER    ...  231 

II.   WILLIAMS'  VIRGINIA  CAREER 235 

III.  SUMNER  COUNTY  RACES,  1804-05 239 

IV.  PRESIDENT  JACKSON'S  ORDERS  AND  REMINISCENCES    .  243 
V.   WILLIAMS'  TENNESSEE  AND  MISSISSIPPI  CAMPAIGNS  248 

VI.  WALK-IN-THE- WATER,  A  REMARKABLE  RACER  ....  253 

VII.   HAYNIE'S  MARIA  AGAINST  THE  WORLD      258 

VIII.  TENNESSEE  OSCAR,  A  HORSE  WITHOUT  A  RIVAL    .    .  266 

APPENDIX:  Letters  from  Andrew  Jackson  to  Rev.  Hardy  M. 

Cryer 271 

ADDENDA 275 

INDEX  .                                            289 


ILLUSTRATIONS l 

PAGE 

Sir  Charles Cover  Design 

Great  Britain Frontispiece 

The  Darley  Arabian,  The  Godolphin  Arabian 20 

Flying  Childers,  King  Herod 32 

Matchem,  O'Kelly's  Eclipse 44 

Highflyer,  Gimcrack,  Imp  Citizen      68 

Imp  Diomed,  Sir  Archy 98 

Timoleon,  American  Eclipse 115 

Imp  Leviathan,  Imp  Glencoe 130 

Rev.  Hubbard  Saunders,  William  Williams,  Montgomery  Bell  143 

Andrew  Jackson,  William  R.  Johnson,  George  Elliott   ....  152 

John  Bascombe,  Boston 166 

Lucius  J.  Polk,  Hugh  Kirkman,  Andrew  J.  Donelson    ....  176 

James  Jackson,  Rev.  Hardy  M.  Cryer,  W.  G.  Harding     ...  186 

Jesse  Cage,  Jo  C.  Guild,  Balie  Peyton      196 

Fashion,  Sir  Henry  Tonson,  Imp  Priam 210 

Wagner,  Grey  Eagle,  Lexington k 220 

1  See  Addenda  A. 


MAKING    THE    AMERICAN 
THOROUGHBRED 

CHAPTER  I 
SPEAKING  GENERALLY 

"BEING  in  the  midst  of  the  winter's  blast,"  wrote 
Gen.  Robert  Desha,  of  Sumner  County,  to  the  New  York 
Spirit  oj  the  Times,  on  February  8,  1839,  "there  is  noth- 
ing doing  with  us  as  regards  that  manly  and  gentlemanly 
amusement,  the  sports  of  the  turf,  to  which  Sumner 
County,  from  the  earliest  period  has  been  and  continues 
to  be  so  much  devoted.  Every  week  brings  us  your 
valuable  sheet,  which  is  a  rich  delicacy  amidst  the  com- 
mon fare  of  our  table.  Like  the  old  soldier  we  sit  by  the 
fireside  and  talk  of  comrades  of  other  days;  the  battles 
they  have  fought  and  victories  won.  We  talk  of  those 
now  on  the  field  and  those  who  are  to  come  after  them. 
In  these  discussions  we  exhibit  the  feelings  common  to 
man  when  we  maintain  that  our  county,  Sumner,  has 
produced,  is  producing  and  will  continue  to  produce  as 
good  and  as  many  race  nags  as  any  county  in  the  United 
States." 

"This,  I  suppose,  is  the  acknowledged  centre  of  the 
race  horse  region,"  wrote  William  Giles  Harding  from 
Belle  Meade  to  The  American  Turj  Register,  on  June  n, 
1839.  "Blood  stock  here  is  all  the  go.  To  be  without  it 


2          Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

is  to  be  out  of  fashion  and  destitute  of  taste.  So  I,  too, 
have  procured  a  little  of  the  real  grit  which  by-and-by 
I  hope  to  increase." 

This  thoroughbred  industry  had  come  to  Tennessee 
from  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas  —  principally  Virginia  — 
where  it  had  flourished  since  pre-revolutionary  days  from 
the  same  causes  which  later  made  it  "all  the  go"  in 
Tennessee  and  other  Southern  and  Southwestern  States. 

The  English  thoroughbred  was  a  discovery  —  the  result 
of  scientific  experiment.  His  speed  and  agility  and  his 
ability  to  stand  heat  and  hard  service,  though  weighing 
only  about  eight  hundred  pounds,  attracted  the  attention 
of  scientists,  both  in  England  and  the  United  States,  to  his 
anatomy,  especially  to  the  solidity  of  his  small  bones  and 
muscles  and  to  his  lungs,  neck  and  shoulders.  His  value 
as  a  commercial  asset  was  quickly  perceived.  He  fit  into 
the  needs  of  the  times  and  his  importation  into  Virginia 
was  based  on  business  necessity  and  economy  and  was 
in  the  natural  order  of  events. 

When  not  engaged  in  the  library,  or  in  some  public 
assembly  protesting  against  British  oppression,  Colonial 
Virginia  lived  out  of  doors.  Fox  hunting  was  a  popular 
sport;  the  thoroughbred  was  the  very  thing  for  the 
chase.  In  harness  and  under  the  saddle  he  solved  the 
problem  of  rapid  transit  in  ease  and  comfort.  For  over- 
land travel  he  was  the  fastest  medium  known.  Through- 
out a  period  when  cross-country  trips,  forty,  fifty,  or  a 
hundred  miles,  to  visit  friends  or  attend  political  or  re- 
ligious conclaves  were  of  daily  occurrence,  the  thorough- 
bred was  considered  as  indispensable  as  all  other  more 
rapid  means  of  conveyance  have  been  regarded  since. 
Practicing  lawyers  and  judges  on  their  circuits,  pastors 
and  elders  on  their  rounds  and  bishops  on  their  annual 
visitations  found  in  him  continual  pleasure;  not  the  least 


Speaking  Generally  3 

part  of  which  sprung  from  a  feeling  of  companionship  so 
common  to  horse  and  rider  on  long  journeys  through 
nature's  heart.  With  both  young  men  and  young  women 
in  the  young  South  horseback  riding  was  a  fashion  and 
an  art  long  since  displaced.  In  seeking  to  checkmate  his 
rival  who  rode  a  thoroughbred  the  gallant  who  did  not 
was  apt  to  win  no  greater  stake  than  an  invitation  to  his 
own  "funeral."  No  creation  of  man's  ingenuity  in  devi- 
sing means  of  transportation  has  ever  excited  greater  pop- 
ular interest  or  wrought  a  greater  or  more  beneficent 
influence  upon  the  customs  and  habits  of  the  people. 
What  the  half-tone  is  to  literature  the  thoroughbred  was 
to  the  entire  social  fabric.  He  raised  existence  above  the 
humdrum  and  the  commonplace.  He  gave  a  new  mean- 
ing to  life  —  a  new  reason  for  sunshine  and  green  grass. 

To  determine  the  best  stock  to  breed  from,  tests  on  the 
race  course  were  deemed  necessary.  "We  can  only  judge 
correctly  of  the  intellectual  and  moral  worth  of  our  great 
men  when  we  view  them  on  the  world's  stage  in  competi- 
tion with  distinguished  competitors,"  said  Gen.  Har- 
ding. "Without  a  theatre  the  world  could  never  have 
known  those  distinguished  delineators  of  human  character 
whose  names  now  fill  many  an  honored  page  in  human 
history.  Without  a  race  course  the  breeder  could  not 
know  the  superior  horses  and  the  best  strains  to  propa- 
gate, and  without  this  knowledge  his  improvement  would 
cease  and  deterioration  begin.  The  race  course  is  a  neces- 
sity." This  was  the  view  of  breeders  generally,  from  the 
foundation  of  the  industry  in  the  United  States,  and  the 
same  rule  has  always  prevailed  in  everything  from  cab- 
bages to  kings. 

In  these  tests  of  individual  types  and  families,  with  the 
view  of  propagating  the  best  stock,  competition  and  ri- 
valry between  owners,  communities  and  states  as  to  the 


4          Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

respective  merits  of  certain  individuals  and  strains  of 
blood  was  inevitable.  Thus,  it  was  reported  in  the  1830*5 
that  the  controversies  then  going  on  in  Kentucky  between 
the  "friends"  of  Medoc  and  the  "friends"  of  Woodpecker, 
and,  in  Tennessee,  between  the  partisans,  respectively,  of 
Luzborough  and  Leviathan,  were  as  intense  as  were  the 
controversies  between  the  Whig  and  Tory  parties  of  olden 
time.  These  rivalries  furnished  several  generations  that 
had  no  exciting  pastime  except  war  and  hunting,  the 
"manly  and  gentlemanly  amusement,  the  sports  of  the 
turf." 

For  be  it  remembered  that  in  all  ages  and  in  all  climes 
men  will  have  diversion  from  their  daily  routine.  The 
native  Hawaiian  who,  standing  erect  on  a  plank,  rides  the 
waves  for  a  mile,  into  shore,  is  controlled  in  his  inborn- 
love  of  excitement,  risk  and  adventure,  by  his  environ- 
ment; but  not  less  so  than  were  the  people  of  the  South 
who,  before  the  appearance  of  modern  sports,  found  on 
the  race  course  an  opportunity  for  recreation  based  upon 
business  necessity  and  economy  and  attended  with  that 
uncertainty  of  results  which  exhilarates  every  human 
endeavor  —  in  war,  in  politics  and  in  all  commercial 
and  professional  pursuits.  The  race  course  was  the 
natural  product  of  conditions  —  as  much  so  as  the  cotton 
gin  and  the  slave  trade.  Indeed,  it  would  have  been  very 
remarkable  under  conditions  then  existing,  if  horse  rac- 
ing had  not  become  the  great  national  amusement. 

Prior  to  the  Revolution,  an  old  chronicle  tells  us, 
"races  were  established  almost  at  every  town  and  con- 
siderable place  in  Virginia:  when  the  inhabitants  almost 
to  a  man  were  devoted  to  this  fascinating  and  rational 
amusement:  when  all  ranks  and  denominations  were  fond 
of  horses,  especially  those  of  the  race  breed:  when  gentle- 
men of  fortune  expended  large  sums  on  their  studs, 


Speaking  Generally  5 

sparing  no  pains  or  trouble  in  importing  the  best  stock 
and  improving  the  breed  by  judicious  crossing." 

Under  these  circumstances  Virginia,  between  1758  and 
1 790,  produced  the  best  race  horses,  the  best  driving  horses 
and  the  best  saddle  horses  known  in  her  history.  So, 
long  before  Virginia  became  the  Mother  of  Presidents 
she  was  the  dam  of  the  thoroughbred  that  presidents 
could  not  withstand.  Here  Jefferson  and  the  Murat  of 
his  administration,  Randolph,  met  Washington  and 
Henry  Clay  on  common  ground.  Nor  was  the  United 
States  Supreme  Court,  nor  the  Army,  nor  the  Navy, 
immune  against  attack  of  this  fecund  sporting  germ. 
Racing  was  the  sport  of  kings.  And  where  kings  lead 
deuces  always  follow:  in  politics,  religion  and  corner 
groceries  it  is  even  so. 

It  was  the  spirit  of  rivalry  above  alluded  to,  added  to 
the  commercial  necessities  of  the  times,  that  made  the 
thoroughbred  the  "fashion"  in  Colonial  Virginia  and 
paved  the  way  for  his  introduction  into  the  wrestern 
country  by  an  immigrant  population  from  the  older  states. 
The  thoroughbred  moved  westward  with  the  star  of 
Empire  as  fast  as  conditions  permitted.  The  interest 
aroused  in  "that  manly  and  gentlemanly  amusement, 
the  sports  of  the  turf"  in  Middle  Tennessee  was  not  due 
to  the  creative  influence  of  any  one  individual,  as  many 
suppose;  it  was  in  the  atmosphere  then,  as  the  automobile 
is  now,  and  it  followed  the  emigrant  wagon  from  Han- 
over's slashes  to  the  Rio  Grande. 

In  promoting  their  industry  Tennessee  breeders,  as 
well  as  those  of  other  states,  in  the  1830*8,  were  wont  to 
tell  of  the  thoroughbred's  superior  qualifications  for  war. 
They  pointed  to  several  European  conflicts  —  the  inva- 
sion of  Europe  by  the  Turks  and  their  subsequent  invasion 
of  Italy  —  in  which  the  Turkish  progenitors  of  the  Eng- 


6          Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

lish  thoroughbred  made  the  Turkish  cavalry  invincible 
although  opposed  by  trained  and  disciplined  troops. 
The  efficient  aid  rendered  by  Light  Horse  Harry  Lee's 
cavalry  to  Gen.  Greene,  in  time  of  stress,  was  made 
possible  by  the  speed  and  endurance  of  the  thoroughbred. 
In  the  Florida  wars  it  was  demonstrated  that  he  could 
stand  heat  and  hardship  better  than  a  mule  and  live  on 
less.  While  scrubs  died  by  the  hundreds  every  son  of 
Pacolet  and  Tennessee  Oscar  and  other  Tennessee 
thoroughbreds  came  through  in  good  condition  and  was 
turned  back  to  the  Government  at  Tampa  Bay. 

These  views  were  more  than  confirmed  a  quarter  of  a 
century  later.  "Never  did  blood  tell  with  more  effect 
than  in  the  beginning  of  the  late  Civil  War  when  the  suc- 
cesses of  the  Southern  cavalry  proved  more  than  equal 
to  the  North,  two  to  one.  But  towards  the  close  of  the 
war  when  the  well-bred  horses  of  the  South  fell  into  the 
possession  of  the  Northern  cavalry  this  superiority 
failed  to  appear.  A  thorough  scrub  is  incapable  of  either 
speed  or  endurance." 

In  this  opinion,  expressed  by  Gen.  W.  G.  Harding,  ex- 
Confederates  and  ex-Federals,  generally  will  concur. 

Gen.  Forrest  had  similar  views.  In  his  pursuit  and 
capture  of  Gen.  Straight  he  demonstrated  the  superi- 
ority of  the  thoroughbred  over  the  draft  horse  of  the 
North.  Gen.  Morgan  owed  his  escape  on  one  occasion 
to  Black  Bess,  a  Kentucky  thoroughbred,  and  her  cele- 
brated 20-mile  run  from  Lebanon  to  Carthage,  under  a 
burning  sun.  The  wonderful  achievements  of  Stuart's 
cavalry  would  have  been  impossible  without  the  use  of 
thoroughbreds.  Success  and  life  itself  often  depended 
upon  the  slender  thread  of  a  pedigree. 

From  Tennessee  the  thoroughbred  industry  passed  on 
to  North  Alabama  where  it  secured  a  strong  hold.  It 


Speaking  Generally  7 

did  not  obtain  to  a  great  extent  in  the  far  South,  but 
here  the  fortunes  made  out  of  cotton  and  sugar  enabled 
the  racing  branch  of  the  industry  to  be  developed  more 
extensively  than  anywhere  else  in  the  Union  except, 
perhaps,  in  Charleston,  S.C.  Brood  mares  that  were 
owned  in  the  far  South  were  generally  kept  in  North 
Alabama  or  Tennessee  but  their  foals  were  reared  on  the 
plantations  of  their  owners.  The  number  of  these,  how 
ever,  was  insufficient  to  meet  demands  of  the  high  lords 
of  the  low  country  whose  racing  centre  was  New  Orleans, 
"the  Newmarket  of  the  South."  The  winter  race  meet- 
ings at  her  three  courses  —  Louisiana,  Metarie  and  Eclipse 
—  drew  people  from  everywhere  as  the  Mardi  Gras  did 
in  more  recent  years.  This  had  an  important  bearing 
upon  the  breeding  industry  of  Tennessee.  Nearly  every 
good  horse  bred  in  Tennessee  was  eventually  purchased 
for  running  in  Mobile,  Vicksburg,  Natchez  and  New 
Orleans  and  other  far  Southern  points.  One  hundred 
thousand  dollars  was  paid  for  horses  to  run  in  New 
Orleans  in  December,  1837. 

"The  prevailing  opinion  in  the  South,"  wrote  Lewis 
Sanders,  a  prominent  breeder  of  Gallatin  County,  Ken- 
tucky, in  1836,  "is  that  Tennessee  possesses  more  and 
better  blood  than  Kentucky.  Tennessee  stock  will  fetch 
more  money  in  the  South  than  ours  will.  ...  At  the 
races  two  years  ago,  at  Louisville,  Tennessee  stock  had 
rather  the  advantage,  though  we  beat  them  the  4-mile 
day  with  a  Kentucky-bred  horse." 

This  preference  of  the  South  for  Tennessee  stock  con- 
tinued. At  the  three  New  Orleans  courses,  on  twenty 
days  in  December,  1838,  there  were  62  entries  (44  horses) 
in  the  25  races  that  were  run.  Thirty-one  (17  horses) 
of  these  62  entries  were  got  by  (or  were  out  of  dams  by) 
one  of  the  horses  named  in  the  list  (in  this  volume)  of 


8          Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

stallions,  that  stood  in  Tennessee.  In  several  instances 
both  sire  and  sire  of  dam  were  of  this  Tennessee  stock. 
The  number  of  individuals  and  entries  by  Leviathan 
exceeded  the  number  by  any  other  horse.  Notwith- 
standing this  showing  Kentucky  produced  many  fine 
horses  and  in  September,  1839,  250  thorough-breds  were 
said  to  be  in  training  in  that  State. 

On  the  turf,  then,  as  in  National  politics,  Tennessee 
was  a  pivotal  State.  Her  race  horses  were  not  less  famed 
than  were  her  statesmen,  her  orators  and  her  preachers. 

As  the  thoroughbred  came  to  establish  a  distinct  type 
of  work  horse  in  the  South,  he  also  created  a  distinct 
type  of  mule.  His  fatigue-proof  and  heat-proof  qualities 
were  a  heritage  from  his  Arabian  ancestors.  When  this 
blood  was  transmitted  to  the  stronger  mule  —  as  was 
first  done  in  the  colonies  —  it  made  him  incomparable 
for  the  Southern  plantation —  100  per  cent  efficient.  In 
this  way  he  contributed  greatly  to  the  growing  of 
tobacco,  rice,  cotton  and  sugar,  the  greatest  wealth- 
producing,  mansion-building  products  of  the  South. 
Tennessee  being  a  thoroughbred  centre  the  production 
of  mules  for  the  Southern  market  came  naturally  out  of 
the  thoroughbred  industry.  Many  Tennesseeans  owned 
cotton  and  sugar  plantations  and  supplied  them  with 
mules  from  Tennessee  throughbred  mares.  Isaac  Franklin, 
for  instance,  used  Fairview  in  Sumner  County,  as  a  base 
of  supplies  for  his  several  Louisiana  plantations. 

Out  of  this  thoroughbred  industry,  also,  the  trotter 
came  by  process  of  evolution  —  a  fact  too  well  known  to 
require  extended  mention.  But  it  may  not  be  well 
known  that  the  superiority  of  the  thoroughbred  horse 
gave  an  impetus  to,  if  it  did  not  originate,  the  im- 
portation of  thoroughbred  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs.  As 
admitted  in  the  North,  the  South  was  far  ahead  of  the 


Speaking  Generally  9 

North  in  improving  other  farm  animals  by  thoroughbred 
importations. 

Instances:  in  the  same  ship  that  landed  in  New  Orleans 
December,  1838,  with  thoroughbred  horses  for  Thomas 
Alderson  of  Nashville  and  Lucius  J.  Polk  of  Mt.  Pleasant, 
Thomas  Flintoff,  a  race  horse  man  of  Williamson  County, 
brought  over  eight  prize  sheep;  and  Cassius,  a  Durham 
bull,  that  was  immediately  sold  to  L.  J.  Polk  of  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant and  James  Jackson  of  Florence,  Ala.,  for  $5,000. 
About  the  same  time,  at  an  auction  sale  of  John  H.  Clop- 
ton's  stock,  near  Nashville,  J.  W.  Clay,  a  race  horse  man, 
Proprietor  of  Bellair,  on  the  Lebanon  road,  and  son-in- 
law  of  John  Harding,  paid  $700  for  a  Durham  cow;  and 
H.  P.  Bostwick,  of  Williamson  County,  paid  $626  for  her 
yearling  calf.  About  this  same  time,  also,  Henry  Clay 
Jr.,  of  Fayette  County,  Kentucky,  sold  a  cow  to  some  of 
his  neighbors  for  $2,000;  Thomas  H.  Clay  paid  $700  for 
a  2-year  old  Durham  bull  and  William  P.  Curd  of  Fayette 
County,  Kentucky,  paid  $500  for  a  pair  of  Berkshire  hogs. 

Out  of  the  popular  interest  thus  aroused  in  all  sorts  of 
pure  blooded  stock  grew  agricultural  shows  and  county 
fairs  known  in  Tennessee  in  1836,  if  not  before.  It  was 
the  spirit  of  the  times,  brought  on  by  the  thoroughbred 
horse,  that  caused  Mark  R.  Cockrill,  a  Davidson  County 
farmer  and  breeder  of  race  horses,  to  capture  premiums 
for  the  best  Merino  wool  at  the  London  Fair  in  1851. 

Of  the  more  than  100  race  tracks,  in  the  United 
States,  each  under  the  jurisdiction  of  its  own  Jockey 
Club,  at  which  races  were  known  to  a  contributor  to  The 
TurJ  Register  to  have  been  run  in  1839,  it  was  said  by 
this  contributor  that  New  Jersey  had  4  tracks,  New  York 
i,  Pennsylvania  i,  District  of  Columbia  I,  Maryland 
3,  Virginia  13,  North  Carolina  6,  South  Carolina  10, 
Georgia  5,  Alabama  10,  Mississippi  8,  Louisiana  8, 


io        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Arkansas  4,  Tennessee  io,  Kentucky  17,  Texas  2,  Florida 
i,  and  Missouri,  Illinois,  Ohio  and  Indiana  6.  Usually 
two,  and  often  three,  meetings  of  from  2  to  6  days  were 
held  each  year  at  each  of  these  tracks.  Besides,  there 
were  many  tracks  without  organized  Jockey  Clubs,  and 
tracks  from  which  no  reports  were  made. 

Of  the  1 60  public  stallions  (thoroughbred)  whose  loca- 
tions were  known  to  the  general  public  in  1839,  37  stood 
in  Tennessee,  36  in  Kentucky,  23  in  Virginia,  17  in  Ala- 
bama, 7  in  Arkansas,  6  in  Georgia,  5  in  North  Carolina 
and  the  remaining  29  in  the  other  states  named.  This 
list  embraces  nearly  all  of  the  most  celebrated  stallions; 
for  the  custom  then  was  to  stand  them  wherever  their 
services  were  most  in  demand,  and  to  advertise  them. 
Still,  there  were  others  not  advertised;  and,  in  addition, 
there  were  many  of  equal  breeding  but  of  less  general 
renown.  Of  these  160  stallions  45  were  imported  and  11 
of  these  45  stood  in  Tennessee  in  the  year  named. 

The  Doncaster  St.  Leger  —  named  for  Lieut.-Gen.  St. 
Leger  —  was  established  in  1776;  the  Oaks,  at  Epsom, 
in  1779  and  the  Derby  at  Epsom  in  1780.  The  Oaks, 
—  named  for  the  Earl  of  Derby's  estate,  near  Epsom  — 
was  open  only  to  3-year  old  fillies;  the  Derby  and  St. 
Leger  to  3-year  old  colts  and  fillies  alike;  the  entries  at 
Doncaster,  however,  being  confined  to  3-year  old  winners 
of  the  six  months  preceding. 

At  the  opening  of  the  season  in  the  spring  came  the 
Derby  and  the  Oaks  in  the  South,  and  at  its  close  in 
September  came  the  St.  Leger  at  Doncaster  in  the  North. 
The  sectional  rivalries  common  to  the  United  States 
were  manifest  at  these  meetings,  the  people  of  the  respec- 
tive sections  —  North  and  South  —  backing  their  own 
horses  whenever  the  contests  narrowed  down  to  this 
point.  Thus,  in  1836,  the  South  won  $1,500,000  on  Elis, 


Speaking  Generally  1 1 

the  Doncaster  St.  Leger  winner,  Lord  Bentinck  alone 
winning  £16,000.  The  "incredible  sum"  of  $2,500,000 
was  said  to  have  changed  hands  on  the  result  —  almost 
equal  to  a  day  on  a  modern  stock  "exchange"  —  so 
called. 

Between  1830  and  1840  the  Doncaster  St.  Leger  stake 
averaged,  yearly,  about  $10,000.  A  few  years  later  it 
varied  between  $18,000  and  $24,000.  The  sizes  of  the 
Derby  and  the  Oaks  stakes  were  of  corresponding  dignity. 
The  honors  and  emoluments  of  these  contests  attracted  the 
bluest  of  the  blue.  For  sixty  years,  or  longer,  they  formed 
the  centre  of  gravitation  in  the  English  breeding  and 
sporting  world,  and  the  supreme  test  of  speed,  endurance, 
blood  and  type.  It  is  no  wonder,  then,  that  from  the 
beginning,  down  to  1838,  the  number  of  nominations  for 
each  of  these  stakes  frequently  exceeded  75  and  ran  as 
high  as  131,  and  that  the  number  starting  frequently 
exceeded  20  and  ran  as  high  as  30. 

A  knowledge  of  these  facts  is  necessary  to  appreciate 
the  progressive  spirit  of  the  Southern  planter  during  the 
period  under  consideration.  At  a  time  when  a  hundred 
weight  of  cotton,  a  "ham  of  meat  and  a  side  of  bacon," 
had  to  be  used  as  a  medium  of  exchange  between  neigh- 
bors, they  went  themselves,  or  sent  agents,  with  gold,  on 
long,  tedious  voyages  and  procured  the  cream  of  English 
aristocracy  to  use  in  building  up  the  commercial  interests 
of  the  South.  While  the  best  specimens  of  English  horse 
flesh  were  contending  for  supremacy  at  Epsom  and  Don- 
caster,  their  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  full  and  half 
blood,  and  other  close  kin,  were  fighting  it  out  to  the  tune 
of  "who  lasts  the  longest"  on  the  various  race  tracks 
between  Beans  Station  and  Memphis. 

An  instance:  at  the  same  time  that  many  of  the  get  of 
imp  Priam  were  entered  for  the  three  great  English 


12       Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

stakes,  eight  of  his  get  were  entered  for  the  Peyton  stake 
and  three  for  the  Trial  stake  at  Nashville.  Three  of  the 
entries  got  by  Priam  won  the  Oaks  and  a  son  won  the 
Trial  stake.  Other  instances  are  given  in  succeeding 
chapters.  All  together  they  show  a  spirit  of  enterprise 
not  exceeded  by  that  of  any  subsequent  period  in  any 
line  of  business,  in  any  section  of  the  Union. 

In  the  publications  current  between  1830  and  1840  a 
diversity  of  opinion,  which  did  not  exist  in  earlier  years, 
is  noticed  with  reference  to  the  wisdom  of  additional 
importations. 

The  4-miIer  was  then  playing  out  in  England  — 
due  to  influences  that  had  not  yet  obtained  ascendency 
in  America  —  and  to  avoid  a  similar  fate  here,  many 
experts  preferred  to  breed  back  as  much  as  possible 
to  the  good  old  4-mile  stock  of  Jolly  Roger,  Janus, 
Morton's  Traveller,  Fearnought,  Diomed  and  Medley  — 
the  fountain  heads  of  Tennessee's  foundation  stock. 

As  a  general  rule  races  were  run  in  the  Atlantic  Coast 
States  by  horses  owned  in  these  states.  West  of  the 
mountains  the  contests  were  between  the  horses  of  Ten- 
nessee, Alabama,  Mississippi  and  Louisiana.  Frequently 
ambitious  owners  from  each  of  these  sections  crossed  the 
barrier  between  them  in  quest  of  greater  honors,  but  these 
were  exceptional  instances.  Between  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee  there  appears  to  have  been  comparatively 
little  intercourse.  Conditions  of  settlement,  trade  and 
transportation,  with  which  the  reader  is  familiar,  made 
Nashville  and  New  Orleans  closer  together  than  Gallatin 
and  Lexington,  Kentucky. 

Where  there  were  organized  Jockey  Clubs,  purses  were 
hung  up,  the  average  value  of  which  was  about  the  same 
in  all  sections  from  New  York  to  Texas,  with  New  Or- 
leans, perhaps,  a  shade  more  liberal.  But  these  purses 


Speaking  Generally  13 

rarely  if  ever  reached  $2,000.  Generally,  the  highest 
ones  ranged  from  $500  to  $1,000.  Sweepstakes  were 
popular  on  all  tracks  and  usually  offered  the  greatest 
inducements.  As  with  the  number  of  the  breeders,  horses, 
and  tracks,  the  size  of  the  purses  increased  from  year  to 
year. 

When  neither  sweepstakes  nor  club  purses  were  believed 
to  comport  with  the  merits  of  a  horse  a  challenge  was 
issued  to  the  whole  world  for  a  match  race  and  an  accep- 
tance almost  invariably  followed.  Match  races  between 
the  best  horses  were  generally  for  some  amount  between 
$5,000  and  $20,000;  banters  were  frequently  made  — 
though  none  were  accepted  —  to  run  for  amounts  as 
high  as  $50,000.  These  contests  usually  involved  state 
and  sectional  pride  and  aroused  great  rivalry  and  excite- 
ment, but  did  not,  of  themselves,  arouse  personal  or  sec- 
tional animosity.  Correspondence  relating  to  a  great 
match  race  between  rival  leaders  of  the  turf  was  always 
couched  in  terms  of  courtesy  believed  to  be  due  from  one 
sportsman  to  another.  The  esprit  de  corps  was  strong, 
even  among  leaders  of  rival  states  and  sections.  In  local 
rivalries  the  crust  of  formalities  was  frequently  pierced 
by  good  natured  jabs,  as  in  the  following: 

"To  Col.  Ramsey,  Editor  of  The  Knoxville  Register: 

"In  my  absence  some  banters  have  been  made  through  the 
columns  of  your  paper  by  Molo  against  Traveller,  representing  that 
if  either  Cashier  or  Traveller  wanted  a  race  with  Molo  they  could 
get  it  for  one  thousand  dollars,  over  the  Red  Bridge  track  with  their 
appropriate  weights.  Now,  I  have  no  thought  that  Molo  wants  a 
race  with  Traveller;  if  he  does  and  will  back  his  statement,  Traveller 
can  beat  him  for  any  sum  from  $500  to  $2,000  over  any  track  in 
East  Tennessee,  or  if  Molo  will  come  to  the  Madisonville  track 
Traveller  will  bear  his  expenses  three  weeks.  As  to  Molo's  insinua- 
tions in  regard  to  his  training  or  riding,  Cashier  does  not  understand 
him;  but  there  is  one  thing  he  does  undersatnd,  that  is,  that  he  of- 


14        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

fered  Molo  a  distance  in  four  mile  heats  last  Fall  at  the  Red  Bridge 
races,  when  he  (Molo)  was  in  training  and  Molo  would  not  take 
him  up. 

"Traveller  can  beat  Molo  or  any  other  covering  horse  in  East 
Tennessee  that  has  made  two  seasons,  and  served  thirty  mares 
each  season  (as  he  has  done),  —  three  or  four  mile  heats  for  any  of 
the  above  mentioned  sums;  the  Race  to  be  closed  by  the  ist  Novem- 
ber next. 

"WILLIAM  AINSWORTH." 
"MADISONVILLE,  Oct.  5,  1836." 


"Chucky  Bend,  2Oth  Oct.  1836. 
"Col.  Ramsey,  Sir: 

"In  your  paper  of  the  5th  inst.  I  see  that  Maj.  Ainsworth  has 
taken  upon  himself  personally  to  banter  Molo  with  his  famous  time 
horse  Traveller.  I  will  state  a  few  facts  and  then  propose  a  race 
.  .  How  do  you  think,  Colonel,  I  am  to  get  out  of  this  banter. 
Molo  is  now  10  years  old  and  in  the  midst  of  his  season.  I  see  but 
one  way  and  that  is  to  follow  the  indications  of  your  valuable  paper. 
I  see  you  have  published  in  the  same  paper,  —  perhaps  the  second 
column  to  the  left  of  the  Major's  banter,  —  that  a  steam  doctor 
in  North  Carolina  '  boasts  that  he  has  discovered  a  system  by  which 
he  can  make  out  of  an  old  man  a  young  man,  and  have  enough  left 
to  make  a  small  dog.'  Now,  if  upon  inquiry  this  aforesaid  steam 
doctor  can  make  out  of  an  old  race  horse,  that  has  been  turned  to 
the  stable  four  years,  a  young  one,  and  have  enough  left  to  make  a 
small  Jackass,  I  will  agree  to  run  it  against  Traveller,  4-miIes  and 
repeat,  for  his  highest  amount  $2,000. 

"JAMES  SCRUGGS." 

In  contests  involving  the  reputation  of  a  state  or  sec- 
tion or  family  of  horses,  persons  making  the  agreement 
usually  gave  each  other  permission  to  draw  on  the  respec- 
tive states,  sections,  or  stock  involved  for  an  individual 
contestant.  As  often  as  otherwise,  parties  issuing  and 
accepting  a  challenge  for  a  great  match  race  ran  some 
other  man's  horse  lent  and  trained  for  that  particular 
occasion.  In  these  great  events  money  was  of  secondary 
consideration. 


Speaking  Generally  15 

In  the  names  of  the  horses  were  reflected  the  prominent 
men  and  important  events  of  that  and  past  periods. 
Napoleon  had  more  namesakes  than  anybody.  Picton, 
also,  kept  Waterloo  in  mind  and  Kosciusko  divided  public 
attention  between  his  victories  and  the  fate  of  Poland. 
La  Fitte  found  some  treasures  for  his  owner  but  caused 
much  to  be  buried.  Balie  Peyton's  Great  Western  marked 
the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in  trans-Atlantic  commerce. 
In  Expunge  we  have  a  reflex  of  a  long  contest  in  the  United 
States  Senate.  Janette  beat  Flirtilla  and  Marion  in  1824 
and  the  nation's  guest,  who  witnessed  the  race,  was  fur- 
ther honored  by  the  changing  of  her  name  to  Virginia  La 
Fayette.  The  rirpiimstflnr^  .that  Iprf  t.n  the  naming  of 
John  Bascombe  indicate  go  fppHng  nf  pprsnnai  antTpa,i 
.between  race  horse  breeders  and  camp  meeting  orators^ 
Nor  was  Rev.  Hardy  M.  Cryer  so  opposed  to  the  turf 
and  the  theatre  that  he  could  view  with  calm  philosophy 
the  death  of  his  favorite,  Ellen  Tree.  Constitution  and 
States  Rights  had  not  then  been  retired  to  the  back 
pasture.  Even  at  this  early  period  on  the  American  race 
track,  if  nowhere  else,  Rights  of  Woman  contested  with 
Rights  of  Man  for  the  crown,  and  cast  dark  shadows  of 
future  events.  Nor  was  Cupid  idle  through  all  these 
years.  "Many  a  fair  belle"  —  as  the  saying  then  was 
among  deferential  writers  of  the  old  school  —  read  her 
fate  in  a  filly's  name  and  had  her  own  preserved  from 
oblivion  by  the  achievements  of  her  namesake. 

principal  organ  of  this  extensive  industry  was  The 
Times,  a  New  York  weekly,  established  Dec. 

laving  eight,  sometimes  ten,  pages  of  three_col_ 

.umns  eacK,  ^,000  words"  10  the  column^  W.  T.  Porter 
founded  the^aper  and  was  its  e3rtoE  The  American  Turf 
Register  and  Sporting  Magazine  was  established  by  J.  S. 
Skinner  at  Baltimore,  in  September,  1829,  and  was  pub- 


1 6        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

lished  there  until  purchased  by  The  Spirit  of  the  Times  in 
1839.  Both  publications  were  conducted  on  the  same 
general  lines.  A  feature  of  The  Turf  Register  each  month 
was  a  likeness  of  some  famous  thoroughbred.  Its  picture 
of  Coronation,  in  the  November  number,  1841,  was,  the 
Editor  said,  "the  first  perfect  specimen  of  electrotype 
engraving  ever  published  in  this  country."  It  suspended 
publication  in  1844. 

The  first  American  stud  book  was  compiled  by  Patrick 
Nisbett  Edgar,  of  North  Carolina,  and  printed  in  1833. 
Of  necessity  it  was  incomplete  and  contained  many  errors. 
Before  1833,  and  for  a  long  time  thereafter,  certificates 
made  by  breeders  as  to  the  foaling  and  parentage  of  horses 
accompanied  them  through  each  successive  ownership, 
together  with  such  amendments  as  occasion  demanded. 
The  Turf  Register  opened  its  columns  to  horse  owners 
throughout  the  Union  and  printed  from  first  hands  every 
pedigree  that  it  could  obtain  of  every  thoroughbred  horse 
of  any  consequence.  Pedigrees  thus  presented  were  ex- 
posed to  the  scrutiny  of  those  who  had  personal  knowledge 
that  enabled  them  to  correct  errors.  By  continuing  this 
practice  throughout  its  existence  this  magazine  laid  up 
priceless  records  in  regard  to  American  horses  of  that  and 
preceeding  periods  and  became  the  principal  source  of  in- 
formation for  all  compilers  of  stud  books  since  that  time. 

The  first  three  pages  of  The  Spirit  were  usually 
devoted  to  New  York  theatricals,  the  English  turf  and 
literary  miscellanies  relating  to  hunting,  fishing  and  the 
chase;  and  extracts  from  the  choicest  popular  literature 
of  the  day  —  such  as  "  Pickwick  Papers/'  "  Handy  Andy," 
etc.  The  rest  of  the  paper  was  given  up  to  recording  cur- 
rent events  of  interest  to  the  breeding  and  race-loving 
world  and  to  advertisements  now  valuable  for  their  in- 
formation about  horses  and  horsemen. 


Speaking  Generally  17 

The  Spirit  kept  special  representatives  in  the  South 
at  all  times  to  look  after  the  most  important  racing  events 
and  the  business  interests  of  the  paper.  Local  corre- 
spondents responded  to  this  generous  policy  and  helped 
the  cause  along  by  sending  notices  of  events  to  come  and 
accounts  of  races,  meetings,  sales,  and  the  movements  and 
plans  of  breeders.  Thoroughbred  cattle,  sheep,  hogs, 
colt  shows  and  other  stock  shows,  county  fairs  and  agri- 
cultural societies  in  Tennessee  and  other  Southern  States, 
all  received  their  just  share  of  space  in  this  New  York 
paper.  Horsemen  discussed  the  theories  and  principles 
of  breeding,  the  value  of  certain  crosses,  native  and  im- 
ported, and  the  possible  disappearance  of  the  game  4- 
miler,  and  the  best  way  to  prevent  it. 

In  this  way  The  Spirit  became  the  medium  of  communi- 
cation —  the  connecting  link  —  between  the  breeding 
interests  of  the  entire  Union.  Tennessee  was  on  the  map 
in  those  days  of  progressive  New  York  journalism  and 
The  Spirit  wrote  the  names  and  character  of  Southern 
breeders  high  in  the  ranks  of  public  spirited  Americans. 
To  turn  the  pages  of  this  old  paper  is  to  live  in  another 
world,  far  distant  from  this,  and  form  intimate  friendships 
with  the  chief  actors  of  a  great  drama,  whose  names,  once 
household  words  in  many  states,  are  now  unknown  where 
their  ashes  lie  buried.  To  call  them  back  to  earth  and  let 
them  go  through  their  parts  again  is  to  challenge  the 
admiration  of  posterity  for  their  services  to  the  public,  and 
secure  for  them  an  honored  place  in  the  history  of  their 
country. 


CHAPTER  II 
ENGLISH  ARISTOCRATS 

THE  pedigrees  of  all  thoroughbred  horses  of  English 
stock  now  in  the  United  States,  or  that  have  ever  been 
here,  whether  native  or  imported,  invariably  trace  to 
some  of  the  horses  named  in  this  chapter. 

In  this  chapter  and  the  next,  in  mentioning  horses  in 
descending  lines  from  the  main  stems,  names  are  confined 
as  much  as  possible  to  offspring  whose  blood  reached 
Tennessee  stock. 

The  relevancy  of  the  facts  set  forth  in  the  second  and 
third  chapters,  to  the  main  subject  in  hand,  will  be 
apparent  when  the  reader  passes  to  the  remaining  pages. 

The  English  race  horse  was  originally  bred  from  the 
Arabian,  Barbary,  and  Turkish  stocks  and  contained  in 
his  veins  nearly  an  equal  admixture  of  the  blood  of  each. 
From  the  Arabian  blood  was  acquired  speed,  from  the 
Barb  strength  and  stride,  and  from  the  Turk  length  and 
height.  With  stock  from  this  cross  established  in  Eng- 
land's more  suitable  climate  it  was  soon  found  that  it 
was  safest  to  rely  on  it  rather  than  upon  continued  orien- 
tal importations.  So  the  English  race  horse  came  to  be 
an  established  type  entirely  different  from  any  of  his 
oriental  progenitors. 

In  laying  the  foundation  for  this  new  type  of  horse  the 
blood  of  many  Barbs,  Turks  and  Arabians  was  called  into 
service. 


English  Aristocrats  19 

Curwen's  Bay  Barb  was  a  present  from  Muley  Ishmael, 
King  of  Morocco,  to  Louis  XIV  and  was  purchased  by 
Mr.  Curwen,  together  with  the  Thoulouse  Barb,  from 
two  sons  of  Louis.  Curwen's  Bay  Barb  was  the  sire  of 
many  fine  racers,  among  them  being  a  mare  that  pro- 
duced (Croft's)  Partner  and  Soreheels  and  the  dam  of 
Crab.  Crab  himself  was  by  the  Alcock  Arabian  and  was 
the  sire  of  many  "eminent"  horses. 

The  Belgrade  Turk  was  taken  from  the  Bashaw  of 
Belgrade,  Turkey,  at  the  siege  of  that  place.  The  Prince 
of  Lorraine's  minister  at  the  Court  of  London  sold  him  to 
Sir  M.  Wyvills. 

The  Straddling,  or  Lister,  Turk  was  brought  into 
England  by  the  Duke  of  Berwick  after  he  had  been  at 
the  siege  of  Buda,  in  the  reign  of  James  II.  He  was  the 
sire  of  Snake,  so  named  from  a  snake-bite;  Squirrel 
(own  brother  to  the  sire  of  the  grandam  of  O'Kelly's 
Eclipse)  and  of  the  noted  mare  that  bred  Squirt  and 
other  famous  horses. 

Other  celebrated  Turks  that  left  their  impress  in  the 
English  blood  were  D'Arcy's  Yellow  Turk,  The  Alcaster 
Turk,  The  Helmsly  Turk,  The  Marshall,  or  Selaby,  Turk, 
The  Strickland  Turk  and  The  Holderness  Turk. 

The  D'Arcy  Yellow  Turk  was  the  sire  of  Spanker, 
Brimmer  and  the  g.  g.  grandam  of  Cartouch.  Place's 
White  Turk  was  sire  of  the  g.  grandam  of  Cartouch. 
Place,  the  owner  of  the  White  Turk,  was  stud  groom  to 
Oliver  Cromwell. 

THREE  CORNERSTONES 

Of  the  large  number  of  the  earliest  Arabian,  Barb  and 
Turkish  importations  the  English  discovered  the  curious 
physical  fact  that  very  few  were  good  foal  getters.  The 
Darley  Arabian  and  the  Godolphin  Arabian  were  two 


2O        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

notable  exceptions.  There  were  other  good  Arabians  — 
among  them  being  the  Leedes  Arabian  and  the  Ogle- 
thorpe  Arabian,  —  the  latter  so  called  for  his  owner,  the 
colonizer  of  Georgia.1  But  the  Darley  and  the  Godolphin 
Arabians  were  the  most  famous,  and  ever  since  their  day 
the  best  English  horses  have  been  either  imbued  with 
their  blood  or  derived  entirely  from  it.  The  descendants 
of  these  Arabians  have  rendered  the  English  courser  su- 
perior to  all  others,  not  only  in  the  race,  where,  indeed, 
he  has  long  excelled,  but  as  a  breeding  stock.  These  two 
Arabians  and  the  Byerly  Turk  are  generally  known 
among  horsemen  as  the  three  great  cornerstones  of  the 
English  thoroughbred  structure. 

BYERLY  TURK  AND  FAMILY 

The  Byerly  Turk  was  the  most  famous  of  all  the  Turks. 
He  was  used  by  Captain  Byerly  as  a  charger,  in  Ireland, 
in  King  William's  wars,  1689;  his  pedigree  unknown.  He 
sired  several  noted  horses,  among  them  being  Basto, 
dam  Bay  Peg  by  Leedes'  Arabian;  and  Jigg,  "a  middling 
horse,"  dam  by  Spanker. 

DARLEY  ARABIAN  AND  FAMILY 

The  Darley  Arabian  was  a  blaze  face  bay,  about  15 
hands  high,  with  both  hind  feet  and  one  fore  foot  white. 
He  was  imported  into  England  in  1703,  when  four  years 
old,  by  a  man  named  Darley,  a  member  of  "a  Yorkshire 
sporting  family"  who  was  a  mercantile  agent  in  the 
Levant. 

The  Darley  Arabian  got  Flying  Childers,  Bartlett's 
Childers  (both  bred  by  Leonard  Childers,  near  Doncaster) 

1  This  Arabian  was  the  sire  of  the  celebrated  Makeless.  The 
Leedes  Arabian  was  the  grandsire  of  Fox  and  others. 


THE  DARLEY  ARABIAN 


THE  GODOLPHIN  ARABIAN 


English  Aristocrats  21 

and  numerous  others  from  whom  sprang  the  largest  and 
speediest  race  horses  ever  known.  Bartlett's  Childers 
was  never  trained.  Flying  Childers  and  O' Kelly's  Eclipse, 
the  latter  a  great-great-grandson  of  the  Darley  Arabian, 
were  the  swiftest  horses  that  have  ever  been  in  the  world; 
and  Sampson,  descended  from  the  Darely  Arabian, 
through  Childers  and  Blaze,  was  the  strongest  race  horse 
the  world  has  produced. 

FLYING  CHILDERS  was  a  bay  with  a  blaze  face  and  four 
white  feet  and  is  said  to  have  been  about  fifteen  hands 
high.  He  was  foaled  in  1715;  his  dam,  Betty  Leedes  by 
Careless;  —  sister  to  Leedes  by  Leedes  Arabian;  —  by 
Spanker;  —  Barb  mare  that  was  Spankers  dam.  Spanker 
was  most  all  Barb. 

In  1721,  when  six  years  old  and  carrying  128  pounds, 
Flying  Childers  ran  the  Round  Course  at  Newmarket,  3 
miles,  3  quarters  and  93  yards  in  6 : 48  —  equivalent  to 
4  miles  in  7:09.  In  the  same  year,  same  weight,  he  ran 
the  Beacon  Course,  4  miles,  I  furlong  and  138  yards  in 
7:30  —  equivalent  to  4  miles  in  7:08.  This,  according 
to  a  Newmarket  chronicle;  its  accuracy  is,  however, 
questioned  by  many  doubting  Thomases. 

The  Editor  of  The  Turj  Register  wrote  that  Flying  Chil- 
ders, when  six  years  old,  at  York,  ran  4  miles  in  6:48, 
carrying  128  pounds;  and  over  another  course  of  4 
miles,  lacking  760  yards,  he  ran  in  6:40.  In  the  6:48  race 
"he  must  have  run  at  the  rate  of  51  feet  9  inches  per 
second  and  at  the  exact  rate  of  a  mile  in  1 142."  He  gave 
the  famous  horse,  Fox,  12  Ibs.  over  the  course  and  beat 
him  one  quarter  of  a  mile  in  a  trial.  Childers'  owner,  the 
Duke  of  Devonshire,  refused  an  offer  for  him  of  the  horse's 
weight  in  crowns  and  half  crowns.  Childers  covered  but 
few  mares,  except  the  Duke  of  Devonshire's.  He  sired, 
among  others: 


22        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

SECOND,  dam  by  Basto. 

BLAZE,  dam  by  Grey  Grantham  by  the  Brownlow  Turk. 

SNIP,  dam  by  Basto.     Snip  got  Snap,  whose  dam  was  by  Fox  of 

Barb  as  well  as  Arabian  descent. 
SPANKING  ROGER,  grandam  by  Spanker. 
ROUNDHEAD,  dam  Roxana  by  the  Bald  Galloway,  a  son  of  the  St. 

Victor  Barb. 

GODOLPHIN  ARABIAN  AND  FAMILY 

The  Godolphin  Arabian  was  a  brown  bay,  15  hands 
high,  with  no  white  except  on  one  heel.  He  was  not  a 
beauty.  He  was  imported  into  England  by  a  man  named 
Coke  and  it  was  strongly  suspected  that  he  had  been 
stolen,  as  no  information  would  be  given  as  to  his  pedigree 
or  the  country  from  which  he  had  come  —  only  the  one 
fact  that  he  had  been  foaled  in  1724.  Coke  gave  the 
horse  to  Williams,  proprietor  of  the  St.  James  Coffee 
House,  and  Williams  gave  him  to  the  Earl  of  Godolphin 
by  whom  he  was  kept  as  a  teazer  to  Hobgoblin  in  1730 
and  1731.  Hobgoblin,  on  one  occasion,  refusing  to  cover 
Roxana,  the  Arabian  was  called  into  service,  the  produce 
being  Lath,  a  "very  elegant  and  beautiful  horse,"  the 
"best  racer  since  Flying  Childers";  but  an  indifferent 
stallion.  Until  his  death  in  1753  the  Godolphin  served 
in  the  EarPs  stud  and  got  a  yearly  succession  of  prodigies, 
among  them  being,  besides  Lath: 

BLANK,  dam  by  Bartlett's  Childers. 

CADE  and  DISMAL,  both  out  of  Roxana.     Cade  was  an  indifferent 

racer  but  a  fine  stallion. 

CRIPPLE,  gray,  dam  by  Cade;    g.  dam  by  Childers. 
DORMOUSE,  dam  by  (Croft's)  Partner. 
JANUS,  dam,  the  dam  of  Blank. 
MATCHLESS,   dam   by   Soreheels,   a  son   of  Basto.     Matchless  was 

imported  into  South  Carolina. 
REGULUS,  dam  Grey  Robinson  by  the  Bald  Galloway.     Regulus 

won  seven  King's  plates  when  six  years  old  and  was  never  beat. 


English  Aristocrats  23 

He  is  generally  referred  to  as  the  best  son  of  the  Godolphin. 
Also  Babraham,  Dimple  and  Gower  Stallion. 

Lath,  Babraham,  Dismal  and  Dormouse  won  all  their  races. 

The  Godolphin  was  buried  with  fitting  ceremonies  and 
cakes  and  ale  were  given  at  his  funeral.  Many  writers 
have  contended  that  he  was  a  Barb. 

LIVE  LINES  OF  DESCENT 

From  these  three  cornerstones  of  the  English  thorough- 
bred structure  —  The  Byerly  Turk,  the  Darley  Arabian 
and  the  Godolphin  Arabian  —  the  "live  lines"  of  descent 
were  through  King  Herod,  Matchem  and  Eclipse. 

Repeating  somewhat,  to  make  clear  the  lines: 

The  Byerly  Turk  got  Jigg  out  of  a  Spanker  mare; 
Jigg  got  (Crofts)  Partner  out  of  a  Curwen  Barb  mare; 
Partner  got  Tartar  out  of  a  Fox  mare;  Tartar  got  Herod. 

The  Godolphin  Arabian  got  Cade  out  of  a  Bald  Gal- 
loway mare;  Cade  got  Matchem  out  of  a  Partner  mare. 

The  Darley  Arabian  got  Bartlett's  Childers  out  of  a 
Careless  mare;  Bartlett's  Childers  got  Squirt  out  of  a 
Snake  mare;  Squirt  got  Marske  out  of  a  Blacklegs  mare; 
Marske  got  Eclipse. 

(i)  THE  HEROD  LINE 

KING  HEROD  was  foaled  in  1758,  the  property  of  Wil- 
liam, Duke  of  Cumberland.  Cypron,  his  dam,  was  by 
Blaze.  Herod  did  not  come  on  the  Turf  until  he  was  five 
years  old,  ran  only  at  Newmarket,  Ascot  Heath  and  York 
and  invariably  ran  4-mile  heats;  his  forte  was  bottom 
and  strength  which  enabled  him  to  carry  weight.  He  ran 
fourteen  races  and  won  ten.  Out  of  five  races  for  a  thou- 
sand guineas  each,1  he  won  three.  Between  1771  and  1789, 

1  A  guinea  was  about  $5. 


24  Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

497  of  his  sons  and  daughters  won  £201,505,  several  cups 
and  43  hogsheads  of  claret.  Three  of  his  get  won  the 
Oaks.  During  the  last  six  years  of  his  life  he  stood  at 

25  guineas  and   10  shillings.    He   died   at   Newmarket, 
May  12,  1780. 

FLORIZEL,  foaled  1768,  was  by  Herod,  dam  by  Cygnet, 
a  son  of  the  Godolphin  Arabian.  Cygnet's  dam  was 
by  Crab;  —  by  Childers.  Florizel  was  in  the  cele- 
brated class.  He  won  16  of  23  races  run  and  got  two 
winners  of  the  Doncaster  St.  Leger  and  one  winner  of  the 
Derby. 

WOODPECKER,  by  Herod,  was  foaled  1773  and  was 
winner  of  28  out  of  35  races.  His  dam  was  by  Cade. 
Woodpecker  got  Buzzard  (winner  of  28  races),  who  sired 
Selim,  the  sire  of  Sultan.  Woodpecker  sired  one  winner 
of  the  Oaks.  He  sired,  in  all,  176  winners  of  prizes 
worth  £70,189,  besides  the  Whip  and  two  cups. 

HIGHFLYER,  King  Herod's  most  celebrated  son,  was 
foaled  in  1774,  the  property  of  Sir  Charles  Bunbury  and 
by  him  sold,  when  a  yearling,  to  Lord  Bolingbroke. 
Highflyer's  dam  was  Rachel  by  Blank,  grandam  by 
Regulus;  —  by  Soreheels;  —  by  Makeless,  out  of  a  D'Arcy 
Royal  mare.1  Highflyer  won  fourteen  races,  was  never 
beat,  never  paid  forfeit;  nor  did  he  ever  run  after  he  was 
five  years  old;  yet  his  winnings  and  forfeits  received 
amounted  to  8,920  guineas.  He  stood  one  season  as  high 
as  50  guineas.  He  was  the  sire  of  469  winning  horses  from 
1783  to  1 80 1.  Three  of  his  get  won  the  Derby  and  one 
the  Oaks. 

1  The  frequent  recurrence  of  the  expression  "Royal  mare"  in 
pedigrees  relates  to  one  of  the  Barb  or  Arabian  mares  (or  their  prod- 
uce) purchased  for  King  Charles  II  by  his  Master  of  Horse,  who  was 
sent  to  the  Levant  in  1670  to  select  a  lot  of  the  best  stallions  and 
mares  for  Hampton  Court  stud. 


English  Aristocrats  25 

SIR  PETER  TEAZLE,  by  Highflyer,  was  the  most  cele- 
brated horse  of  his  time  and  counted  by  some  writers  the 
best  stallion  that  ever  stood  in  England.  Sir  Peter's 
dam,  Papillon,  was  by  Snap,  grandam  by  Regulus. 

Snap  was  one  of  the  best  race  horses  that  ever  covered 
in  England  and  founded  a  strain  almost  equal  to  that  of 
Matchem.  He  was  of  great  beauty  in  form  and  propor- 
tions, strong,  vigorous,  and  muscular  and  was  not  sur- 
passed in  any  respect  by  any  horse  of  his  day.  The 
mares  got  by  him  produced  more  good  race  horses  than 
the  mares  of  any  other  strain  in  England.  Twenty-one 
of  them  produced  celebrated  horses. 

Sir  Peter  was  foaled  in  1784,  the  property  of  the  Earl 
of  Derby.  He  won  seventeen  races;  among  them  the 
Derby,  in  1787;  his  losses  not  stated.  He  broke  down  at 
four  years  old,  went  into  the  stud  and  sired  296  winners 
of  a  far  greater  number  of  prizes  between  1794  and  1808. 
Four  of  Sir  Peter's  get  won  the  Derby,  two  won  the  Oaks 
and  four  the  St.  Leger.  He  died  Aug.  10,  1811. 

For  fifty  years  the  descendants  of  Highflyer  and  Sir 
Peter  Teazle  were  the  best  horses  in  England. 

ROCKINGHAM,  another  of  Highflyer's  most  famous 
sons,  foaled  1781,  out  of  Purity  by  Matchem,  was  winner 
of  32  out  of  35  races. 

(2)  THE  MATCHEM  LINE 

MATCHEM,  foaled  in  1 748,  was  out  of  a  mare  by  (Croft's) 
Partner.  Matchem  won  ten  races  and  lost  two.  Accord- 
ing to  the  same  diary  that  records  the  achievements  of 
Flying  Childers,  Matchem,  in  1755,  carrying  119  pounds, 
ran  the  Beacon  Course  at  Newmarket  in  7:20,  ten  seconds 
short  of  Flying  Childers'  time  and  equal  to  4  miles  in  6:58. 

On  being  retired  to  the  stud  Matchem  attracted  great 
attention.  The  continued  successes  of  his  get  caused  his 


26        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

owner  to  gradually  increase  the  fee  for  his  service  until  he 
stood  at  50  guineas,  the  number  of  mares  being  limited  to 
twenty-five,  besides  those  of  his  owner,  Mr.  Fenwick 
of  Northumberland.  From  1764-1786,  inclusive,  174  of 
Matchem's  get  won  $670,870  in  specie,  independent  of 
valuable  cups  and  subscriptions.  As  a  stallion  he  profited 
his  owner  $75,480.  John  Randolph  wrote  of  Matchem: 
"He  may  be  truly  said  to  have  earned  more  money  than 
any  other  horse  in  the  world.  He  was  the  greatest  stallion 
ever  known.  He  died  February  21,  1781."  He  got  one 
winner  of  the  Oaks  and  one  winner  of  the  St.  Leger.  His 
son  most  distinguished  as  a  sire  was  Conductor,  sire  of 
both  Imperator  and  Trumpator. 

(3)  THE  ECLIPSE  LINE 

O' KELLY'S  ECLIPSE  was  out  of  Spiletta  (by  Regulus) 
out  of  Mother  Western  by  a  son  of  Snake  full  brother 
to  Williams'  Squirrel.  Mother  Western's  dam  was  by 
Old  Montagu;  her  grandam  by  Hautboy  (by  D'Arcy's 
White  Turk),  out  of  a  daughter  of  Brimmer.  Thus 
Eclipse  inherited  the  blood  of  the  two  most  distinguished 
Arabians. 

He  was  foaled,  the  property  of  the  Duke  of  Cumber- 
land, during  the  great  Eclipse  of  1764.  At  the  sale  of  the 
Duke's  stud  a  man  named  Wildman,  "a  sporting  sheep- 
salesman,"  purchased  Eclipse,  then  a  colt,  for  75  guineas. 
Just  after  his  victorious  maiden  race  of  4-mile  heats,  on 
May  3,  1769,  Col.  O' Kelly  purchased  one-half  interest 
in  him  for  650  guineas  and,  after  his  eleventh  race,  in  1 769 
or  1770,  purchased  the  other  half  for  1,000  guineas. 
Henceforth  he  was  known  as  O' Kelly's  Eclipse.  He  won 
eleven  King's  plates,  ten  of  which  weighed  168  pounds 
each. 

Carrying  168  pounds,  42  more  than  the  standard  of 


English  Aristocrats  27 

later  years,  Eclipse  ran  4  miles  at  York,  in  8  minutes. 
According  to  the  accepted  calculations  of  experienced 
turfmen  that  7  pounds  extra  makes  a  difference  of  a 
distance  of  240  yards  in  a  4-mile  heat,  Eclipse  moved 
along  at  a  swifter  gait  than  Flying  Childers.1 

Eclipse  "was  never  beat,  never  had  a  whip  flourished 
over  him,  never  felt  the  tickling  of  a  spur,  nor  was  he  ever 
for  a  moment  distressed  by  the  speed  or  rate  of  a  com- 
petitor —  out  footing,  out  striding  and  out  lasting  every 
horse  which  started  against  him." 

O'Kelly  cleared  $125,000  by  him  —  winning  18  prizes. 
He  withdrew  Eclipse  from  the  turf  because  no  horse  hav- 
ing a  chance  to  win  against  him,  the  odds  on  him  varied 
from  20  to  100  to  i. 

Eclipse  began  his  career  as  a  stallion  at  50  guineas  a 
mare;  reduced  the  next  year  to  half  that  sum.  In  23 
years  344  horses  got  by  him  won  for  their  owners  $790,000. 

When  requested  to  name  a  price  for  Eclipse,  O'Kelly 
placed  it  at  £25,000  down,  in  addition  to  an  annuity  of 
£500  on  his  own  life  and  the  privilege  of  sending  to  him 
annually  six  mares.2 

Marske  who  had  been  standing  for  half  a  guinea  and 
who  was  sold  for  twenty  guineas,  —  after  siring  Eclipse 

1  In  41  4-mile  heat  races  of  1838,  over  the  most  popular  courses 
in  the  United  States,  where  the  purse  or  prize  was  $1,000  or  more, 
the  average  winning  time  was  8:12$;    usual    weights:    4-y ear-olds 
100;  5-yearsno;  6-yearsn8;  aged  124.    How  far  these  and  better 
horses  of  their  day  and  of-Iater  times  would  have  been  left  behind  by 
Flying  Childers  or  Eclipse  is  a  question  referred  to  those  who  like 
to  make  figures. 

2  O'Kelly  seems  not  to  have  been  the  favored  son  of  mere  luck. 
When  Eclipse  was  about  starting  in  the  second  heat  of  his  first  race 
O'Kelly  placed  him  first  and  the  others  nowhere;  and  it  was  so.    He 
bought  an  old  hack  mare  by  Tartar  (of  the  Herod  line)  when  she 
was  past  20  years  and  cleared  £30,000  by  her  ten  produce,  all  by 
Eclipse;    among  them  being  Mercury  and  Volunteer. 


28        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

was  sold  for  one  thousand  guineas  and  covered  at  one 
hundred  guineas. 

Eclipse  died  February  27,  1789.  An  exact  measure- 
ment of  every  part  of  his  body  was  made  and  put  on  record. 
His  height  at  the  withers  was  66  inches  —  about  i6J 
hands;  at  the  rump  he  was  67  inches.  One  of  his  hoofs 
was  superbly  set  in  gold,  as  a  goblet;  and  nearly  half  a 
century  later  was  presented  by  the  King  of  England  to 
the  English  Jockey  Club.  The  tassel  of  "the  Whip" 
was  also  said  to  have  been  taken  from  the  tail  of  this 
renowned  champion  of  the  English  Turf. 

Eclipse  got  three  winners  of  the  Derby  and  one  winner 
of  the  Oaks. 

Among  his  get,  besides  Mercury  and  Volunteer,  were: 

DUNGANNON,  dam  by  Herod,  g.  dam  by  Blank.     Dungannon  won 

27  out  of  30  races. 

HALL'S  ECLIPSE  (imported  into  Virginia),  dam  by  Regulus. 
KING  FERGUS,  dam  by  Black-and- All-Black;   g.  dam  by  Tartar. 
OBSCURITY,  imported  into  Virginia,  in  1784,  dam  by  Careless  (win- 
ner  of  ten   King's  plates),   out  of  CuIIen  Arabian  mare.     This 

Careless  was  by  Regulus. 
PEGASUS,  dam  by    Bosphorous  by   Babraham.      Bosphorous   won 

seven  King's  plates. 
SALTRAM,  dam  Virago  by  Snap,  g.  dam  by  Regulus.     Foaled  1780. 

Won  the  Derby  in  1783.     Imported  into  Virginia  in  1800. 
Also,  Don  Quixote,   imported  into  Virginia;    Janus,   and    PotSos; 

Scota,  dam  by  Herod,  and  Vertumnus,  dam  by  Sweeper,  g.  dam 

by  Tartar.    Sweeper  was  by  Sloe,  son  of  Crab. 

VALUE  OF  CROSSES 

During  the  lifetime  of  Sir  Peter  Teazle  a  book  was 
printed  anonymously,  setting  forth  the  main  figures  in 
the  live  lines  of  descent  as  here  given.  In  the  Herod 
blood,  said  the  author  of  that  volume,  were  united  a 
strong  constitution,  celerity  and  lastingness  —  qualities 


English  Aristocrats  29 

"perpetuated"  notably  by  Highflyer  and  his  son  Sir 
Peter  Teazle.  Their  get,  said  this  book,  "inherit  all  the 
rare  perfections  that  distinguish  this  noble  race  of  blood. 
Highflyer  mares  are  held  in  high  estimation;  Sir  Peter 
mares  cross  well  with  the  Eclipse  class  of  blood.  Wood- 
pecker mares  have  also  produced  good  runners.  To  the 
Herod  blood  we  must  apply  whenever  we  want  bottom  or 
lastingness.  The  descendants  of  Matchem  and  Eclipse 
cross  better  with  those  of  Herod  than  with  each  other." 
As  instances  of  the  value  of  the  Eclipse-Herod  admix- 
ture he  cites  Beningbrough  and  Gohanna,  by  sons  of 
Eclipse,  out  of  Herod  mares.  All  subsequent  authorities 
take  the  same  view;  the  early  and  continual  beneficial 
results  of  these  crosses  has  been  the  breeders'  lode-star  in 
England  and  America  to  the  present  time.  In  the  horses 
mentioned  in  this  volume  the  Herod-Eclipse  cross  has 
been  the  most  frequent.1 

1  For  additional  information  about  earnings  of  horses  mentioned 
in  this  chapter  see  Addenda  B  at  end  of  volume. 


CHAPTER  III 
FIRST  FAMILIES  OF  VIRGINIA 

THE  greater  number  of  thoroughbreds  in  the  entire 
South  and  probably  in  the  United  States,  in  1883,  traced 
to  some  of  the  Virginia  horses  named  in  this  chapter. 
This  statement  is  made  after  a  careful  study  of  the  pedi- 
grees of  the  88  principal  stallions  in  service  in  the  United 
States  in  1883,  and  the  pedigrees  selected,  at  random,  of 
139  thoroughbreds,  bred  or  owned  in  Tennessee  and 
Kentucky  between  1888  and  1896,  the  full  tide  period 
of  post-bellum  activities  in  the  thoroughbred  industry 
in  the  United  States,  especially  in  Tennessee  and  Ken- 
tucky. 

JOLLY  ROGER,  known  in  England  as  Roger  of  the  Vale, 
was  the  first  horse  that  gave  distinction  to  Virginia  stock. 
He  was  foaled  in  1741  and  was  got  by  Roundhead,  dam 
by  Croft's  Partner;  —  by  Woodcock;  —  by  Croft's  Bay 
Barb;  —  by  Makeless;  —  by  Brimmer,  etc.  He  was  im- 
ported into  Virginia  and  commenced  his  career  in  the  stud 
about  1748.  He  got  many  fine  stallions  and  brood  mares 
and  his  blood  became  a  favorite  cross  in  Virginia. 

JANUS,  a  chestnut  and,  from  his  shoulders  back,  the 
most  perfect  horse  ever  seen  in  Virginia,  was  foaled  in 
England  in  1746.  His  sire  was  Janus  (by  the  Godolphin) 
dam  by  Fox;  g.  dam  by  the  Bald  Galloway.  Janus  was 
imported  by  Mordecia  Booth  of  Gloucester  County  in 
1752.  In  the  third  and  fourth  generations  his  descend- 
ants exhibited  the  same  compactness  of  form,  strength 


First  Families  oj  Virginia  31 

and  power  that  characterized  their  progenitor.  The 
Janus  stock  exceeded  all  others  in  the  United  States  for 
speed,  durability  and  uniformity  of  shape  and  were  noted 
as  the  producers  of  more  good  saddle  horses  than  any 
other  stock. 

CELER,  son  of  Janus,  foaled  in  1774,  the  property  of 
Mr.  Mead,  of  Virginia,  propagated  a  stock  equal  in  every 
quality  to  that  of  his  sire.  Celer's  dam  was  a  descendant 
of  the  Godolphin  Arabian  and  the  CuIIen  Arabian.  He 
died  in  1802,  aged  28  years. 

MORTON'S  TRAVELLER,  a  bay,  was  foaled  in  Yorkshire, 
England,  about  1748.  His  sire  was  (Croft's)  Partner;  his 
dam  by  Bloody  Buttock's  Greyhound,  an  Arabian.  He 
had  also  the  blood  of  Makeless,  Brimmer,  Place's  White 
Turk  and  the  Lay  ton  Barb  mare.  In  1754  Morton's 
Traveller  was  in  the  stud  at  Richmond  Court  House, 
Virginia.  Many  of  his  get  became  celebrated. 

PARTNER,  foaled  in  1775,  was  the  most  distinguished 
son  of  Morton's  Traveller,  both  as  a  racer  and  as  a  stallion. 
Partner  got  Rockingham  out  of  Gen.  Thomas  Nelson's 
imp  Blossom  by  Sloe  (son  of  Crab),  dam  by  Regulus; 
Fitz-Partner,  out  of  the  dam  of  Celer,  and  — 

MARK  ANTHONY,  who  was  foaled  about  1763.  Mark 
Anthony's  dam  was  Septima,  by  Othello,  alias  Black-and- 
all-BIack,  and  was  descended  from  Spark  who  was  pre- 
sented by  Frederick,  Prince  of  Wales,  to  Lord  Baltimore, 
who  gave  him  to  Govenor  Ogle  of  Maryland.  Mark 
Anthony  was  remarkable  for  his  beauty,  speed  and 
bottom  and  propagated  a  stock  held  in  highest  esteem  for 
their  various  valuable  qualities  as  turf,  harness  and  saddle 
horses.  Mark  Anthony  had  a  habit  of  standing  erect  on 
his  hind  feet  at  the  starting  post  and  "screaming"  until 
the  other  horses  started.  He  also  habitually  passed  them; 
in  one  race  he  distanced  all  seven  of  his  competitors. 


32        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

On  other  occasions  he  frequently  rose  on  his  hind  feet 
and  walked  twenty  or  thirty  yards. 

FEARNOUGHT,  prior  to  the  day  of  Medley,  was  the  most 
famous  of  all  the  stallions  in  Virginia.  He  was  foaled  in 
1755,  the  property  of  William  Warren  of  England;  his 
sire  was  Regulus,  his  dam  Silvertail  who  had  the  blood  of 
Darley's  Arabian,  Gresley's  Arabian,  the  Helmsly  Turk 
and  a  Royal  Barb  mare. 

Fearnought  was  imported  by  Col.  John  Baylor,  of 
Virginia,  and  first  stood  as  a  stallion  in  1765.  He  was  a 
bright  bay,  15  hands  one  inch  high.  All  his  descendants 
ran  well  and  his  sons  and  grandsons  were  noted  for  the 
excellence  of  their  get.  He  died  in  1776.  Of  his  numerous 
offspring  were:  Apollo,  out  of  an  imported  CuIIen  Arabian 
mare;  Dandridge's  Fearnought;  Harris*  Eclipse,  out  of 
Baylor's  imported  Shakespeare  mare;  King  Herod,  out 
of  an  Othello;  Matchless,  out  of  a  Sober  John;  Regulus, 
out  of  imp  Jenny  Dismal  by  Dismal;  Whynot,  out  of 
an  Othello,  and  — 

SYMMES'  WILDAIR,  out  of  a  Jolly  Roger,  and  who  proved 
to  be  best  son  of  old  Fearnought. 

Among  Wildair's  get  were  Commutation,  Highflyer 
and  Chanticleer;  the  last  named  the  sire  of  John  Ran- 
dolph's Gracchus. 

Other  distinguished  stallions  of  Colonial  Virginia  were: 
imp  Justice,  imp  Vampire  and  imp  Merry  Tom,  all  by 
Regulus;  imp  Juniper  by  Babraham;  imp  Ranter  by 
Dimple,  dam  by  Crab;  imp  Aristotle  by  the  CuIIen 
Arabian;  Sterling  by  the  Belsize  Arabian  and  Selim  by 
Othello.  None  of  these  Virginia  owned  horses  were  more 
than  15 \  hands  in  height.  In  their  day  Virginia  was 
famed  for  her  saddle  horses.1 

1  To  prove  that  the  important  thing  in  a  horse  was  to  have  a  well 
organized  frame,  with  plenty  of  sinew,  rather  than  sheer  height  and 


FLYING  CHILDERS 


KING  HEROD 


First  Families  of  Virginia  33 

FAMOUS  IMPORTED  MARES 

Among  the  famous  mares  imported  into  Virginia  before 
the  Revolution  —  besides  Blossom  and  Jenny  Dismal 
were: 

MARY  GRAY,  by  Roundhead,  imported  1746;  owned 
by  Carter  Braxton.  She  produced  seven  filly  foals  by 
Jolly  Roger.  Through  her  daughters  she  gave  the  Flying 
Childers'  blood  to  innumerable  descendants  and  became 
the  most  celebrated  brood  mare  in  America. 

KITTY  FISHER,  by  Cade.    Imported  by  Carter  Braxton. 

JENNY  CAMERON,  by  a  son  of  old  Fox,  and  her  daughter, 
Blazella,  by  Blaze. 

Besides  mares  mentioned  elsewhere  that  were  imported 
into  Virginia  after  the  Revolution,  were  these  imported 
by  Col.  John  Tayloe,  of  Mt.  Airy: 

ANVILINA,  foaled  1794,  by  Anvil,  son  of  Herod,  out  of 
O' Kelly's  famous  Augusta,  by  Eclipse.  Presented  by 

bulkiness,  The  Turf  Register  in  1830-31  reprinted  from  The  American 
Farmer  a  table  showing  the  height  of  134  of  the  most  celebrated 
horses  in  England  prior  to  the  Revolution.  Only  one  of  the  134 
was  as  high  as  16  hands.  Of  the  remaining  133  only  one  was  as 
high  as  15.3,  five  15.2,  twelve  15  hands.  Twenty-nine  were  under 
14  hands.  Among  others:  Babraham  was  16  hands,  Blaze  15,  Cade 
15,  Dormouse  14.02^,  Fox  13. 03^,  Gower  Stallion  15.1,  Jigg  14.0^, 
Second  14.02^,  Tartar  14.3!,  Marske  14.02^,  Pacolet  13.35.  Old 
Cartouch,  by  the  Bald  Galloway,  was  not  over  14  hands,  "yet  no 
horse  in  the  kingdom  was  able  to  run  with  him  at  any  weights  from 
eight  to  twelve  stone."  Neither  Flying  Childers  nor  Eclipse  con- 
formed to  the  standards  for  symmetry  but  "the  mechanism  of 
Eclipse's  frame  was  almost  perfect.  The  velocity  of  his  gallop  could 
only  result  from  the  harmonious  combination  in  the  organs  of  pro- 
gression." In  Flying  Childers  "the  strength  of  loin  and  general 
compactness  of  form,  upwards,  doubtless  supported  his  extraordi- 
nary reach  and  enabled  him  to  make  those  wonderful  springs  recorded 
of  him." 


34        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Col.  O'Kelly  to  Col.  Tayloe  and  sold  to  Col.  Alston  of 
South  Carolina. 

Also,  Peggy,  foaled  1788,  by  Trumpator,  dam  by  Herod; 
and  her  daughter  Brittannia  by  Pegasus;  Flirtilla  by 
Vertumnus,  dam  by  Conductor;  and  Augusta  by  Saltram. 

By  Col.  John  Hoomes:  Volante  by  Volunteer,  and 
Favorite  by  Volunteer,  dam  by  Matchem. 

Among  other  mares  imported  into  Virginia,  before  and 
soon  after  the  Revolution,  were  one  each  by  the  CuIIen 
Arabian,  Bartlett's  Childers,  the  Belgrade  Turk,  Tartar, 
Volunteer,  O' Kelly's  Eclipse  and  Highflyer.1 

To  a  more  or  less  degree  the  blood  of  all  these  mares 
eventually  reached  Tennessee  stock. 

POST  REVOLUTIONARY  SIRES 

Among  stallions  imported  into  Virginia  after  the  Revo- 
lution were  Pantaloon  by  Herod;  Robin  Redbreast,  two 
Sir  Peter  Teazles,  and  Starling,  all  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle; 
Seagull  by  Woodpecker;  Spadille,  St.  George  and  St. 
Paul,  all  by  Highflyer.2 

The  most  famous  sires  of  the  post  Revolutionary  period 
were  those  sketched  below. 

The  LINDSAY  ARABIAN  whose  name  appears  frequently 
in  Tennessee  pedigrees  was  presented  by  the  Emperor  of 
Morocco  to  the  Captain  of  an  English  vessel  who,  en 

1  Among  importations  of  mares  into  other  states  were:   three  by 
Sir  Peter  Teazle,  one  by  the  CuIIen  Arabian  and  one  by  PotSos 
into  South  Carolina  and  Nancy  Bywell,  by  Matchem,  into  Mary- 
land.    Still  other  importations,  states  not  given,  were:    a  mare  by 
Cripple;    one  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle,  and  one  by  Babraham. 

2  Among  importations  of  stallions  into  other  states  before  and 
after  the  Revolution  were  Snap  and  Snipe  by  Snap;  Prince  by  Herod  ; 
Star  by  Highflyer;  and  another  Sir  Peter  Teazle  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle 
—  all  into  South  Carolina,  from  which  state  many  horses  went  to 
Tennessee. 


First  Families  oj  Virginia  35 

route  to  England,  landed  in  the  West  Indies.  Turned 
out  for  exercise  the  horse  fell  from  a  high  elevation  and 
broke  three  of  his  legs.  The  owner  then  presented  the 
horse  to  a  sea  captain  who  lived  in  Connecticut,  to  which 
State  the  horse  was  taken  in  1766.  In  1777  or  1778 
Gen.  H.  Lee,  of  the  American  cavalry,  and  his  officers, 
were  attracted  by  the  superior  form  and  appearance  of 
some  eastern  horses  employed  in  the  cavalry.  Upon 
inquiry  the  officers  learned  the  story  of  the  sire,  as  stated 
above.  Gen.  Lee  then  sent  Capt.  Lindsay  to  make 
more  minute  investigations  with  instructions  to  buy  the 
horse  if  he  answered  the  description  given.  The  horse 
was  purchased  and  sent  to  Virginia.  He  was  white  and 
of  the  most  perfect  form  and  symmetry,  of  lofty  carriage 
and  commanding  appearance  and  proved  a  great  success 
in  the  stud.  Among  his  get  was  Gen.  George  Washingon's 
Magnolia  (dam  by  imp  Othello)  who  stood  at  Mt.  Vernon 
in  1785  at  £5.* 

SHARK,  imp  br.  foaled  1771;  by  Marske,  dam  by  Snap; 
—  by  Marlborough,  full  brother  to  Babraham  and  imp 
Selima;  —  natural  Barb  mare.  Shark  ran  29  races  in 
England  and  won  19.  Among  his  trophies  were  a  gold 
cup,  eleven  hogsheads  of  claret  and  20,000  guineas  in  plates, 
matches,  forfeits,  etc.  "When  no  horse  could  be  found  in 
England  to  start  against  him,"  it  was  announced  that  he 
would  be  shipped  to  America,  whereupon  10,000  guineas 
were  publicly  offered  for  him  to  keep  him  in  England. 
He  was  imported  into  Virginia  by  Col.  John  Tayloe  and 

1  About  1790  at  a  Jockey  Club  meeting  at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  at 
which  Washington  acted  as  a  judge  in  some  of  the  races,  Magnolia 
ran  a  race  and  lost.  Thomas  Jefferson  was  more  fortunate;  at  this 
same  meeting  his  horse  called  the  Roan  colt  is  said  to  have  won. 
Washington  later  sold  Magnolia  to  Gen.  H.  Lee  for  $1,500. 
Gen.  Lee  sent  him  to  South  Carolina  and  sold  him  for  a  handsome 
profit. 


36        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

died  there  about  1796,  aged  25.  Among  his  distinguished 
get  were  the  grandam  of  Virginian,  and  the  g.  g.  grandam 
of  Sir  Charles. 

MEDLEY  was  a  son  of  the  "little  gray  horse  Gimcrack" 
who  was  foaled  in  1760.  Gimcrack's  sire  was  Cripple 
and  his  grandam  (some  writers  say  dam)  was  by  (Croft's) 
Partner.  Gimcrack  was  one  of  the  severest  running  and 
hardest  bottomed  horses  that  ever  ran  in  England.  He 
kept  it  up  till  he  was  n  years  old.  Though  14  hands 
and  one  quarter  of  an  inch  he  was  able  to  carry  great 
weight,  frequently  giving  odds  as  high  as  28  Ibs.  Both  in 
England  and  in  France  he  "swept  the  deck"  of  his  famous 
competitors.  Four  and  five-mile  races  were  his  chief 
delight.  Such  was  his  •  celebrity  that  his  last  owner  left 
him  for  a  long  time  at  Tattersalls  for  close  inspection  by 
his  enthusiastic  admirers. 

Medley,  foaled  1776,  was  imported  into  Virginia  in 
1785  by  Malcolm  Hart.  Medley's  dam  was  Arminda 
(full  sister  to  Papillon)  by  Snap  who  was  only  14  hands 
and  one-half  inch  high.  From  Snap,  Medley  got  his 
beauty,  symmetry  and  strength.  The  want  of  size  in 
the  Medley  stock  was  no  obstacle  to  their  success  on  the 
race  course.  They  could  carry  more  weight  than  other 
stock  and  they  had  better  bottom,  better  limbs  and  better 
eyes  than  any  other  stock  of  horses  ever  bred  in  Virginia. 
This  fact  was  due  to  their  peculiar  physical  formation, 
and  the  purity  of  their  blood,  Medley  being  one  of  the 
purest  bred  horses  ever  produced  in  England.  He  stood 
at  Hanover  Court  house.  Col.  John  Tayloe  who,  be- 
tween 1791  and  1808,  won  113  out  of  141  races  run  by  his 
horses,  said  that  Medley  was  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
horses  he  ever  saw  and  his  stock  the  best  in  Virginia. 
Among  Medley's  distinguished  get  were  Quicksilver, 
Young  Medley,  Melzar,  Gimcrack  and  — 


First  Families  oj  Virginia  37 

BELLAIR,  bred  and  owned  by  Col.  John  Tayloe,  and 
Medley's  most  distinguished  son,  not  only  as  a  racer  but 
for  the  purity  of  his  blood  and  the  success  of  his  get  as 
racers,  stallions  and  brood  mares.  He  had  the  blood  of 
Fearnought,  Partner,  Mark  Anthony  and  Morton's 
Traveller  and  their  distinguished  ancestry.  His  great 
grandam  was  imp  Selima  (full  sister  to  Babraham) 
imported  by  Col.  Tasker  of  Maryland.  She  produced 
13  foals.  Bellair  lost  only  one  race  and  that,  when  out 
of  condition,  to  Gimcrack.  In  1791  Col.  Tayloe  refused 
an  offer  of  $10,000  for  Bellair.  He  had  numerous  de- 
scendants in  Tennessee. 

DIOMED  was  foaled  in  1777,  the  property  of  Hon. 
Richard  Vernon,  of  Newmarket,  by  whom  he  was  sold 
to  Sir  Charles  Bunbury.  He  was  got  by  Florizel,  dam 
sister  to  Juno  by  Spectator;  g.  dam  by  Blank;  —  by 
Childers;  Miss  Belvoir  by  Gray  Grantham;  —  by  Paget's 
Turk;  Betty  Percival  by  Leedes' Arabian; —  by  Spanker. 
Spectator's  dam  was  by  (Croft's)  Partner.  Spectator 
was  by  Crab. 

Diomed  was  15!  hands  high  and  was  a  solid  chestnut 
without  white  except  on  the  heel  of  his  right  hind  foot. 
He  came  on  the  turf  in  1780  and  in  his  first  season  won 
seven  straight  races  one  of  which  was  the  Derby  at  Ep- 
som (he  was  the  first  Derby  winner)  and  another,  a  sweep- 
stake, of  500  guineas  each,  at  Newmarket.  Summing  up 
his  career;  he  won  ten  races  and  received  one  forfeit, 
was  beat  eight  times  and  paid  one  forfeit.  He  was  placed 
in  the  stud  in  1785  at  5  guineas  and  in  1789  was  raised  to 
10  guineas.  In  England  he  got  65  "most  distinguished" 
sons  and  daughters,  besides  many  others  of  lesser  note.  His 
son,  Grey  Diomed,  was  one  of  the  most  noted  horses  that 
ever  ran  in  England;  and  in  Russia  he  ran  with  such  success 
that  several  of  his  stock  were  sent  for  from  that  empire. 


38        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Diomed  was  imported  into  Virginia  in  the  spring  of 
1789  by  Messrs.  Lamb  and  Younger  who  had  paid  50 
guineas  for  him.  He  had  lost  popularity  in  England 
because  of  the  obstinacy  of  his  get.  Soon  after  reaching 
Virginia  he  changed  hands  several  times,  the  price  in  one 
deal  being  1,000  or  1,200  guineas.  As  the  property  of 
Col.  M.  Selden  and  Thomas  Goode  he  stood  two  seasons 
at  Goode's  in  Chesterfield  and,  it  seems,  was  kept  all  his 
life  in  Virginia. 

Among  the  most  renowned  of  Diomed's  get  in  this 
country  were:  Ball's  Florizel,  dam  by  imp  Shark,  foaled 
1802;  Duroc,  dam  Amanda  by  Grey  Diomed,  1806; 
Madison,  dam  by  Chanticleer;  Potomac,  dam  by  Pegasus, 
1801;  Stump-the-Dealer,  dam  by  imp  Shark,  1801;  Vir- 
ginius,  dam  by  Chatham,  grandam  by  Hall's  imp  Eclipse, 
1805;  and  Sir  Archy.  Also  the  dams  of  Henry,  Eagle, 
Corporal  Trim  and  Sir  Alfred;  Bolivar's  grandam;  and 
others  whose  names  are  prominent  in  the  early  history  of 
Tennessee  stock. 

In  1831  a  writer  said  that  there  was  not  a  good  horse 
in  Virginia  that  did  not  have  Diomed's  blood,  or  that  of 
one  of  his  descendants  in  his  veins,  and  in  1883  so  eminent 
an  authority  as  Mr.  Bruce  said,  "there  is  scarcely  a  good 
horse  in  England  today  but  what  has  some  of  his  blood." 

Diomed  died  in  Virginia  in  1807  or  1808,  leaving  behind 
him  "a  name  and  a  fame  which  will  endure  to  the  end  of 
all  time,  and  crowned  with  the  laurels  of  the  two  great 
racing  countries  of  the  world,  England  and  America."1 

BEDFORD,  foaled  in  1792,  was  got  by  Dungannon, 
dam  Fairy  by  Highflyer,  g.  dam  by  Young  Cade;  —  by 

1  Among  the  eminent  Virginians  who  appreciated  Diomed's 
qualities  was  Thomas  Jefferson,  whose  Monticello,  bred  by  him, 
was  by  Diomed,  out  of  a  mare  by  Chanticleer  best  son  of  Wildair 
and  best  horse  of  his  day. 


First  Families  of  Virginia  39 

Crab,  out  of  the  Warlock  Galloway.  He  was  bred  by 
Lord  Grosvener  and  was  imported  into  Virginia  by  Col. 
John  Hoomes.  He  was  one  of  the  best  horses  ever  brought 
from  England  and  left  a  numerous  and  valuable  offspring. 
His  blood  was  valued  highly  by  Tennessee  breeders,  as 
evidenced  by  the  frequency  of  his  name  in  Tennessee 
pedigrees. 

THE  GODOLPHIN  ARABIAN  OF  AMERICA 

In  1779  Col.  John  Tayloe  imported  a  brown  mare, 
Castianira,  by  Rockingham,  dam  Tabitha  by  Trentham; 
g.  dam  (the  dam  of  Pegasus)  by  Bosphorus.  Together 
with  shipping  charges,  Castianira  cost  $750.  She  made  no 
distinguished  figure  on  the  turf  and  was  soon  withdrawn. 
Her  second  foal,  by  imp  Diomed,  was  dropped  in  May, 
1805,  as  the  joint  property  of  Col.  Archibald  Randolph  of 
Ben  Lomond,  Virginia,  and  Col.  John  Tayloe.  This  was  — 

SIR  ARCHY,  doubtless  named  for  Col.  Randolph.  He 
was  a  blood  bay  with  no  white  except  on  the  heel  of  his 
right  hind  foot.  He  grew  to  be  16  hands. 

Sir  Archy  first  appeared  on  the  turf  in  1808  when, 
having  the  distemper,  he  was  more  than  distanced  in  a 
sweepstake  at  Washington,  by  Bright's  Phoebus  by 
Messenger.  Col.  W.  R.  Johnson,  of  Petersburg,  Virginia, 
who  witnessed  the  race,  immediately  purchased  Sir  Archy 
for  $1,500  and  under  Johnson's  management  he  won 
every  race  he  ran. 

Johnson's  challenge  to  run  him  against  any  horse  in 
the  world  not  being  accepted,  Sir  Archy  began  his  career 
as  a  stallion  in  1810,  as  the  property  of  Maj.  A.  J.  Davie 
of  Halifax  County,  North  Carolina,  who  paid  $5,000  for 
him.  Later  he  came  into  the  possession  of  J.  D.  Amis  of 
Northampton  County,  North  Carolina,  who,  in  1833,  was 
quoted  as  saying  that  Sir  Archy,  in  the  stud,  had  netted 
him  $76,000.  In  1829  he  stood  at  $100  to  insure. 


4O        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

In  a  list  of  80  or  90  of  Sir  Archy's  distinguished  get  it 
does  not  affirmatively  appear  that  any  one  of  them  except 
Virginia  Taylor  was  bred  in  a  Northern  state;  all  others 
—  or  nearly  all  —  seem  to  have  been  produced  in  Mary- 
land, Virginia,  North  Carolina  and  South  Carolina.  But 
after  winning  fame  on  the  turf  they  carried  the  dynamic 
force  of  the  Archy  blood  into  the  stock  of  all  states,  and 
gave  to  their  distinguished  sire  the  well-merited  title, 
"The  Godolphin  Arabian  of  America." 

Among  Sir  Archy's  distinguished  get  were:  Bertrand, 
foaled  1821;  Cherokee;  Corporal  Trim,  1825;  Flirtilla, 
1820;  Gohanna,  1821;  Henry,  1816;  Industry,  1824; 
Isabella,  1821;  Janette,  alias  Virginia  LaFayette,  1820; 
John  Richards,  1819;  Kosciusko,  1812;  Lady  Lightfoot, 
1812;  Marion,  1820;  Mucklejohn,  1827;  Pirate,  1823; 
Reality,  1813;  Sally  Gee,  alias  Pandora,  1825;  Sally 
Hope,  1822;  Sea  Gull,  about  1815;  Sir  Archy,  Jr.,  alias 
"Montorio,"  alias  "Out-of-Transport,"  1822;  Sir  Arthur; 
Sir  Charles,  1816;  Sir  William,  out-of-Transport;  Sumpter, 
1818;  Tariff,  1824;  Vanity,  1812;  Virginian,  1813. 

Records  at  hand  do  not  show  that  any  of  the  above 
named  horses  served  as  stallions  in  Tennessee,  or  that 
any  of  the  mares  were  owned  here;  but  all  of  them,  more 
or  less,  had  descendants  in  Tennessee.  Of  Bertrand 
(bred  by  John  R.  Spann  of  South  Carolina)  Wallace 
wrote  in  1867:  "he  was  unequalled  on  the  turf  and  in 
the  stud  had  no  rival"  and  "did  more  to  improve  the 
stock  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  than  any  horse  before 
or  since  his  day."  A  short  time  before  his  death  his 
owner  James  Lindsay,  of  Lexington,  Kentucky,  refused  an 
offer  of  $35,000  for  him.  Of  equal  fame  was  Sir  Charles, 
both  on  the  turf  and  in  the  stud.  Of  the  others  in  the  list 
here  given  the  following  named  were  perhaps  the  most 
celebrated  for  their  performances  on  the  turf:  Flirtilla, 


First  Families  of  Virginia  41 

Henry,  Isabella,  Virginia  LaFayette,  John  Richards, 
Lady  Lightfoot,  Reality,  Sally  Hope,  Vanity  and  Virginian. 
Sir  Archy  was  most  noted  for  his  ability  to  get  stock 
capable  of  winning  at  all  distances,  and  this  trait  he  trans- 
mitted to  his  sons  to  a  remarkable  degree.  His  daughters, 
also,  proved  true  to  the  blood  of  their  sire  in  producing 
stock  of  speed  and  endurance.  More  remains  to  be  said 
of  Sir  Archy  and  many  of  his  get.  Here  it  is  not  inap- 
propriate to  quote  an  announcement  made  between 
mourning  border  lines  in  The  Turf  Register  of  July,  1833: 

"EXTRAORDINARY  COINCIDENCE  —  Death  of  Two  Distinguished 
Characters  on  the  Same  Day.  —  Old  Sir  Archy  and  his  son  Sir  Charles, 
by  whose  great  achievements  the  fame  of  the  sire  was  sustained  and 
elevated,  both  expired  on  the  yth  of  June. 

"Peace  to  their  ashes!  —  Theirs  was  an  enviable  destiny.  .  .  . 

"How  few  of  us  can  boast  of  having  so  honestly  acted  well  our 
parts  as  did  these  two  noble  animals.  And  well  were  they  rewarded 
by  the  humanity  of  their  owners,  and  the  pleasures  procured  for 
themselves  by  the  glory  of  their  achievements."1 

1  For  additional  information  about  horses  mentioned  in  this 
chapter  see  Addenda  C. 


CHAPTER  IV 
HARDY   TENNESSEE  PIONEERS 

THE  pedigrees  of  practically  all  thoroughbreds  produced 
in  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  and  the  pedigrees  of  a  major- 
ity of  all  the  thoroughbreds  produced  in  the  United  States, 
between  1883  and  1896,  trace  to  some  of  the  horses  named 
in  this  chapter  and  the  next,  as  standing  in  Tennessee 
prior  to  1845. 

As  early  as  1790,  according  to  Killebrew's  "Resources 
of  Tennessee,"  the  following  named  thoroughbred  stallions 
were  brought  to  Sullivan  County,  which  joins  Virginia: 
Stately,  Milton,  Genus  (doubtless  Genius),  Flag  of  Truce, 
Don  Quixote,  Diomed  and  Peter  Quicksilver.  The  leading 
men  in  this  movement  were  Col.  John  Scott,  Col.  William 
Blevins  and  members  of  the  Snapp,  Tipton,  Greene  and 
Rutledge  families.  Killebrew  gives  no  pedigrees,  hence 
I  am  unable  to  identify  any  of  the  horses.  The  records 
show,  however,  that  horses  of  these  names  were  of  this 
period.  The  only  imported  horse  named  Diomed  was  the 
sire  of  Sir  Archy,  and  he  was  not  imported  until  1799. 

Though  I  can  find  no  authority  other  than  Killebrew  for 
the  statement  above  made,  there  is  still  indisputable 
evidence  that  the  thoroughbred  beat  the  Constitution 
to  Tennessee;  or,  to  state  it  another  way  —  "the  Con- 
stitution followed  the  flag"  of  the  thoroughbred  to 
Tennessee. 

Between  1790  and  1795  tne  following  named  stallions 
(pedigrees  given  here  as  in  advertisements)  were  adver- 


Hardy  Tennessee  Pioneers  43 

tised  in  The  Knoxville  Register  and  State  Gazette  to  stand 
in  East  Tennessee.    The  words  in  parentheses  are  mine. 

BRILLIANT  (said  to  have  been  imported  and  by  "old"  Peacock); 
at  John  Gibson's  near  Bulls  Gap;  service  30  shillings  and  a  bushel 
of  grain. 

BRIMMER,  by  Old  Clubfoot  (by  imp  Janus)  out  of  Doll  Pearson 
by  old  Pearson;  at  William  Cocke's;  $6. 

CHATHAM,  by  old  Chatham  (said  to  have  been  bred  by  Lord 
Chatham)  dam  Venus  by  Olympus.  Bred  by  Capt.  Williams  of 
Maryland.  At  Alexander  Brown's,  Jefferson  County;  season  20 
shillings. 

LABURNAM,  by  old  Laburnam,  dam  a  full  blooded  Fearnought;  at 
Hesekiah  Bayles;  Knox  County.  (Old  Laburnam  was  by  imp 
Lath  by  Shepherd's  Crab.  Old  Laburnam's  dam  was  by  imp 
Jolly  Roger). 

LEADALL,  by  Selo  (evidently  Celer)  "out  of  a  Janus  and  Fearnought, 
mare,"  at  William  Shelton's,  German  Creek. 

RAINBOW,  foaled  May  2,  1787,  by  Dandridge's  Fearnought,  dam  by 
Dreadnought.  Bred  by  Capt.  Harrison,  Brunswick  County,  Vir- 
ginia. At  Charles  Gilliam's,  Knox  County. 

RAVEN  (said  to  have  been  by  "imp"  Raven);  at  Stephen  Duncan's 
near  Knoxville;  $3  and  a  bushel  of  oats;  40  shillings  to  insure. 

YOUNG  NORTHUMBERLAND,  by  imp  Northumberland,  dam  by 
imp  BuIIe  Rock;  advertised  by  John  Adair  and  Robert  Christian 
to  stand  season  1792  at  John  Adair's  place  near  Knoxville;  $3.50. 
(Imp  Northumberland  was  by  Bustard  —  probably  the  one  by 
Crab.  Imp  Bulle  Rock,  imported  in  1730,  aged  twelve  years, 
was  by  the  Darley  Arabian.  There  were  three  native  bred  Bulle 
Rocks  of  later  periods;  one  of  these  may  have  been  meant,  though 
the  first  was  possible.) 

YOUNG  ST.  GEORGE,  by  imp  St.  George,  dam  "  by  the  old  Arabian 
who  was  imported  and  come  out  of  the  famous  Rosetta."  Season 
1792  at  James  Manasco's  and  Lazarus  Dodson's,  Greene  County; 
$2  and  a  bushel  of  corn.  (The  imp  St.  George  referred  to  was  most 
likely  the  one  foaled  1771,  by  Dragon,  out  of  a  mare  by  Blank.) 

All  of  the  horses  hereinafter  named  as  standing  in 
Tennessee  prior  to  1840  descended  from  the  Darley  Ara- 
bian, or  the  Godolphin  Arabian  or  the  Byerly  Turk,  or 


44        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

from  all  three;  this  fact  will  not,  as  a  rule,  be  further 
noted  in  pedigrees.  Most  all  of  these  horses  descended, 
also,  from  Herod,  or  Matchem  or  Eclipse,  or  from  all 
three.  Where  the  blood  of  any  one  of  these  three  horses 
was  prominent  in  a  pedigree,  and  this  fact  does  not  other- 
wise appear,  it  will  be  indicated  by  the  letters  H,  M  or  E 
as  the  case  may  be.^ 

STALLIONS  BETWEEN  1800  AND  1810 

The  most  noted  stallions  known  to  have  stood  in 
Tennessee  between  1800  and  1810  were  those  named 
below.  Except  in  one  or  two  cases  noted  the  cost  of 
service  did  not  exceed  $30  and  was  always  payable  in 
cotton,  pork,  beef,  cattle  or  other  "country  produce," 
as  the  equivalent  of  money. 

In  this  decade  and  the  next,  eight  grandsons  of  O' Kelly's 
Eclipse  and  numerous  representatives  of  the  Herod  and 
Matchem  families  laid  a  solid  foundation  for  the  Tennessee 
stock. 

"GREY  MEDLEY,  foaled  1791;  got  by  imp  Medley; 
dam  by  True  Whig;  g.  dam  Circe  by  Ariel.  True  Whig 
by  Regulus  (son  of  imp  Fearnought)  dam  imp  Jenny 
Dismal,  by  Dismal;  g.  dam  by  Lord  Godolphin's 
Whitefoot.  Ran  at  Tappahannock,  Va.,  and  taken  to 
Tennessee." 

The  above  quotation  from  "Wallace's  Stud  Book"  as  to 
Grey  Medley's  dam  and  age  is  supported  by  the  testi- 
mony of  Dr.  R.  D.  Barry.  In  The  Knoxville  Register  and 
State  Gazette  of  March  20,  1799,  Dr.  Barry  advertised 
Grey  Medley  to  stand  that  season  "at  the  Brothers 
Cottage  adjoining  Knoxville,  the  seat  of  Dr.  Claiborne." 
In  that  advertisement  he  stated  that  Grey  Medley's  dam 
was  by  True  Whig  —  which  is  the  main  point  of  differ- 
ence between  Wallace  and  Skinner.  Dr.  Barry  also 


MATCHEM 


O' KELLY'S  ECLIPSE 


Hardy  Tennessee  Pioneers  45 

printed  a  certificate  signed  by  Lawrence  Muse,  Secretary 
and  Treasurer  of  the  Tappahannock  Jockey  Club,  and 
Col.  John  Tayloe,  of  Mt.  Airy,  Virginia,  stating  that  on 
May  13,  1795,  Beckwith  Butler's  Grey  Medley  ran  as  a 
4-year  old  at  Tappahannock,  defeating  four  competitors. 

The  season  of  1800  Grey  Medley  stood  at  the  farm  of 
William  Donelson,  ten  miles  from  Nashville,  on  the 
Gallatin  road;  and  for  several  years  thereafter  at  the 
farm  of  Dr.  Barry,  in  Sumner  County.  In  The  Nashville 
Clarion  of  March,  1810,  he  was  advertised  to  stand  at 
William  Blackwell's,  Parson's  Creek,  Montgomery  County; 
$8;  $12.  He  was  very  vicious.  Bred  by  Gov.  Williams, 
of  North  Carolina. 

Tradition  says  that  Grey  Medley  was  the  first  thorough- 
bred stallion  brought  into  Middle  Tennessee.  Quite  to 
the  contrary,  yet  worthy  of  consideration,  is  the  state- 
ment made  by  Dr.  Felix  Robertson  to  Judge  William 
Williams,  in  1856,  that  about  1788  his  father,  Gen. 
James  Robertson,  brought  from  Maryland  to  Nashville 
"a  thoroughbred  —  he  thinks  called  Whynot."  But  it  is 
generally  believed  that  the  thoroughbred  industry  of 
Middle  Tennessee  began  with  Grey  Medley  and  mares 
already  here  in  1800  or  brought  soon  thereafter.1 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  Mr.  W.  O.  Farmer's  "  Eden- 
wold,"  the  one  remaining  thoroughbred  nursery  of  any 
importance  in  Tennessee,  embraces  part  of  the  William 
Donelson  estate  which  is  said  to  have  witnessed  the  begin- 
ning of  the  thoroughbred  business  in  this  section. 

HORSES  THAT  OCCASIONED  DUELS 

PLOUGHBOY,  dk.  b.,  foaled  1798;  by  imp  Bedford, 
dam  Miss  Queenland  by  Gen.  Daniel  Morgan's  celebrated 

1  For  other  evidence  on  question  here  considered  see  "  Panton's  " 
statement,  Addenda  D. 


46        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Paul  Jones;  —  Selima  by  imp  Jolly  Roger;  —  imported 
mare  by  Matchem.  Paul  Jones  was  by  Specimen  (son  of 
imp  Fearnought),  dam  Filis  by  Gov.  James  Delaney's 
imp  Wildair  (reshipped  to  England)  by  Cade.  Speci- 
men's dam  (according  to  Erwin's  advertisement)  was 
Gen.  Thomas  Nelson's  imp  Blossom;  Bruce  says  she 
was  imp  Jenny  Dismal. 

Bred  by  Col.  John  L.  Alexander,  of  Virginia;  owned 
in  1805-06  by  Capt.  Joseph  Erwin  (or  Ervin)  and  adver- 
tised by  Corbin  Lee,  manager,  to  stand  the  season  of 
1806,  beginning  April  10,  at  Capt.  Erwin's,  Nashville; 
service  100  weight  clean,  merchantable  cotton;  200  weight 
to  insure.  Following  is  an  excerpt  from  this  advertisement, 
which  appeared  in  the  Impartial  Review  during  February 
and  March  —  and  possibly  in  January —  1806. 

"The  prefent  engagement  with  this  horfe  is  such  that  he  cannot 
be  put  to  mares  any  fooner  than  the  above  ftated  time  —  He  is 
now  engaged  in  a  match  of  3,000  dollars,  half  forfeit,  against  Gen. 
A.  Jackfon's  celebrated  Truxton,  to  run  on  the  3d  of  April.  —  In  a 
few  days  after  the  race  he  will  be  ready  to  receive  mares,  and  be 
properly  attended  to.  This  race  being  one  of  very  confiderable 
importance,  will,  no  doubt,  excite  a  very  numerous  concourfe  of 
fpectators,  who  will  then,  if  not  before,  be  able  to  decide  whether  or 
not  PLOUGHBOY  merits  the  attention  and  preference  of  fportfmen 
and  gentlemen  breeders  —  Gentlemen  who  wifh  to  breed  fine  horfes 
would  do  well  not  to  put  their  mares  to  horfes  until  after  the  race, 
as  at  that  time  it  will  be  seen  (barring  accidents)  whether  or  not  he 
be  the  true  bred  racer." 

In  a  match  between  Truxton  and  Ploughboy,  set  for 
Clover  Bottom  in  the  fall  of  1805,  Capt.  Erwin  and 
his  son-in-law,  Charles  Dickinson,  had  settled  forfeit  in 
a  way  satisfactory  to  Jackson.  Statements  credited  to 
Jackson  regarding  the  terms  of  settlement,  which  state- 
ments Erwin  and  his  friends  thought  reflected  upon  Er- 
win's honor,  started  a  bitter  controversy  about  January  i. 


Hardy  Tennessee  Pioneers  47 

Dickinson's  first  contribution  to  this  controversy  was  a 
letter  written  to  Jackson  on  January  10,  and  delivered 
after  Dickinson's  departure  for  New  Orleans.  Dickin- 
son's second  contribution  was  a  communication  to  the 
Impartial  Review  immediately  after  his  return  about  May 
2Oth.  It  was  this  article  that  brought  Jackson's  challenge, 
Dickinson's  death,  and  a  wound  that  caused  Jackson 
great  physical  suffering  at  frequent  intervals  the  remainder 
of  his  life  —  even  in  his  dying  hours. 

During  Dickinson's  absence  the  controversy  raged  in 
the  columns  of  the  Review  —  the  impartial  Review;  it 
brought  a  caning  to  Thomas  Swann  from  Jackson;  and  a 
duel  between  McNairy  and  Coffee,  on  March  ist. 

The  second  match  between  Truxton  and  Ploughboy 
may  have  been  arranged  before  the  controversy  started 
—  there  is  no  evidence  extant  on  that  point.  But  it  is 
more  than  probable  that  it,  too,  grew  out  of  this  Quixotic 
quarrel.  And  it  is  certain  that  the  intense  feeling  between 
the  two  factions  found  expression  at  Clover  Bottom  on 
April  $d  and  made  this  Truxton-PIoughboy  contest  the 
most  serious  ever  witnessed  there.  That  everybody  was 
expected  and  that  standing  room  would  —  it  was  thought 
—  be  at  a  premium,  is  shown  by  the  following  advertise- 
ment that  appeared  in  the  ever  impartial  Review,  March 
15,  1806,  and  on  divers  dates  thereafter: 

CLOVER  BOTTOM   RACE 

On  Thurfday  the  3d  of  April  next,  will  be  run,  the 
greateft  and  moft  interefting  match  race  ever  run  in  the 
Weftern  country,  between  Gen.  Jackfon's  horfe 

TRUXTON 

6  years  old  carrying  124  Ibs.  and  Capt.  Jojepb  Erwin's  horfe 

PLOUGHBOY 

8  years  old  carrying  130  Ibs.  —  These  horfes  run  the  two- 
mile  heats,  for  the  fum  of  3,000  dollars.  No  stud  horfes  can 


48        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

be  admitted  within  the  gates,  but  such  as  contend  on 
the  TURF  —  and  all  perfons  are  requefted  not  to  bring 
their  dogs  to  the  field,  as  they  will  be  shot  without  refpect 
to  the  owners.  March  ift.  1806. 

Ploughboy  was  not  advertised  in  the  Impartial  Review 
after  April  3,  1806,  nor  in  either  of  the  two  subsequent 
years.  A  possible  reason  for  this  may  be  found  in  the 
statement  of  Jackson  quoted  below. 

TRUXTON,  foaled  1800;  15  hands  3  inches  in  height. 
Advertised  by  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson  to  stand  seasons  of 
1807  and  1808  in  charge  of  John  W.  Clay  "on  the  hill 
adjoining  town  near  the  College  seat";  $20  payable  within 
the  season;  $30,  longer  credit,  in  "merchantable  ginned 
cotton."  In  1809  Truxton  stood  at  Clay's  at  $50.  In 
1816  he  stood  at  Will  Trigg's  stable,  Gallatin,  at  $10; 
$20  to  insure;  all  "notes  payable  to  Maj.  Gen.  Andrew 
Jackson." 

"We  should  be  pleased  to  have  a  minute  account  of 
the  performances  of  Truxton,"  wrote  editor  Skinner,  of 
The  Turf  Register,  in  the  December  number,  1833,  "but 
the  following  which  we  find  in  the  tenth  volume  of  The 
American  Farmer  is  the  only  one  we  have.  Every  drop 
of  his  blood  is  to  be  prized  wherever  it  is  to  be  found." 

The  article  then  quoted  is  one  by  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson 
and  is  as  follows: 

"Truxton  is  a  beautiful  bay,  full  of  bone  and  muscle;  was  got 
by  the  imported  horse  old  Diomed,  and  came  out  of  the  thorough- 
bred mare  Nancy  Coleman,  the  property  of  Maj.  John  Verrell  of 
Virginia.  Truxton  is,  however,  too  well  known  to  require  minute 
description.  His  performances  on  the  turf  have  surpassed  those  of 
any  horse  of  his  age  that  has  ever  been  run  in  the  western  country; 
and,  indeed,  it  might  be  said  with  confidence,  that  he  is  equal,  if 
not  superior,  to  Mr.  Ball's  Florizel  horse,  who  was  got  by  the  same 
Diomed,  and  who  now  stands  unrivalled  in  Virginia  as  a  race  horse. 

"Truxton,  by  old  sportsmen  and  judges,  is  admitted  to  be  amongst 


Hardy  Tennessee  Pioneers  49 

the  best  distance  horses  they  ever  run  or  had  to  train.  His  speed  is 
certainly  known  to  all  of  those  who  have  run  against  him.  He  has, 
on  the  most  unequal  terms,  started  against  the  very  best  mile  horses 
in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and  beat  them  with  great  ease;  and 
in  no  one  instance  has  ever  run  with  any  horse,  when  he  himself 
was  in  order,  but  he  either  could  or  did  distance  him  with  ease. 
Although  the  four  mile  heats  is  the  real  and  true  distance  for  Truxton 
to  run,  he  has  beaten  Mr.  Gordon's  five  mile  horse,  Jack-of-CIubs, 
and  Mr.  Cotton's  Greyhound,  both  aged  horses,  with  equal  weights 
of  100  Ibs.  on  each,  the  single  mile  heats. 

"And  lastly,  to  crown  the  much  doubted  speed  of  Truxton  with 
his  opponents,  he  beat,  on  only  two  sound  legs,  on  the  3d  of  April 
1806,  over  the  Clover  Bottom  turf,  the  celebrated  horse  Ploughboy, 
who  was  never  before  beaten,  and  beating  him  without  the  assistance 
of  whip  or  spurs.  It  is  now  no  longer  difficult  for  the  numerous 
concourse  of  people  who  were  present  on  that  day  to  say  'whether 
or  not  Truxton  be  the  true  bred  racer.' 

"Truxton's  winnings,  from  time  to  time,  from  the  most  correct 
information,  amount  to  at  least  twenty  thousand  dollars,  and  his 
colts  are  not  inferior  to  any  on  the  continent. 

"ANDREW  JACKSON." 

Appended  to  this  communication  was  this  certificate 
signed  by  Samuel  Pryor: 

"I  do  certify  that  I  have  trained  the  above  mentioned  horse 
Truxton,  and  with  truth  can  say  that  I  believe  him  in  point  of  speed 
and  bottom  equal  to  any  distance  horse  in  America." 

And  a  certificate  from  Maj.  John  Verrell  of  Dinwiddie 
County,  Virginia.,  in  which  he  gave  the  pedigree  of 
Truxton's  dam  as  follows: 

"Nancy  Coleman,  was  got  by  young  Fearnought;  her  dam 
Latona,  by  old  Partner;  her  grandam  by  the  imported  horse  Jolly 
Roger;  her  g.  grandam  by  the  imported  horse  Skim,  out  of  a  Barb 
mare. 

"Given  under  my  hand  this  loth  March  1806. 

"JOHN  VERRELL." 

In  no  account  of  the  Jackson-Dickinson  duel  that  I 
have  seen  is  mention  made  of  this  last  race  between  Trux- 


5O        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

ton  and  Ploughboy;  yet,  no  matter  how  good  a  loser 
Dickinson  was  under  ordinary  circumstances,  Truxton's 
victory  could  not  have  failed  to  intensify  his  feeling 
against  Jackson  at  the  time  he  wrote  the  article  which 
brought  Jackson's  challenge. 

OTHER  RICH  BLOODED  SIRES 

BARONET,  imp  b.  foaled  1785;  by  Vertumnus,  dam  Penultima  by 
Snap;  g.  dam  by  Cade;  —  by  Crab;  —  by  Flying  Childers. 
Imported  into  New  York  with  PotSos  mare,  grandam  of  American 
Eclipse.  As  property  of  Walter  Carr,  James  Martin  and  D. 
McGavock  made  season  1807  north  of  Nashville  —  "below  the 
stone  bridge  on  the  road  to  McGavock's  Ferry";  $15,  $24. 
Empress,  the  grandam  of  the  famous  Ariel,  was  by  Baronet. 
"Of  all  importations,"  says  "Frank  Forester,"  "none  equalled 
him  in  elegance  and  finish." 

BURRAMPOOTER,  by  imp  Dare  Devil,  dam  by  Symmes'  Wildair. 
Dare  Devil  by  Magnet  son  of  King  Herod.  At  Augustine  Willis', 
West  Harpeth,  1806;  at  David  Squier's,  Franklin,  1808. 

COEUR  de  LION,  imp  b.,  by  Highflyer,  out  of  Dido  by  O'Kelly's 
Eclipse.  Foaled  1789;  imported  in  1800  by  Col.  John  Hoomes  of 
Virginia.  Owned  by  Elisha  Williams,  then  by  his  son,  Judge 
William  Williams.  Stood  three  seasons  in  North  Carolina,  and 
after  that  in  Davidson  County,  Tennessee,  until  his  death  in  1809. 
In  1807,  1808  he  stood  at  the  farm  of  Joseph  Phillips,  7  miles 
north  of  Nashville;  $25;  $30. 

CRAWLER,  foaled  1792;  by  Highflyer,  dam  Harriet  by  Matchem; 
g.  dam  by  Regulus;  —  by  Bartlett's  Childers;  Bred  by  the  Duke 
of  Graf  ton. 

DOUBLEHEAD,  by  imp  Diomed,  dam  Polly  Medley  by  Grey  Medley; 
1807  at  R.  C.  Foster's,  three  miles  southeast  of  Nashville,  "on  the 
Jefferson  road";  $20;  $25;  1808  at  Joseph  Park's  stable  in  Nash- 
ville; $25.  At  one  time  owned  by  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson. 

SOUR  CROUT,  imp  b.,  foaled  1786;  by  Highflyer,  dam  Jewell  by 
Squirrel;  —  by  Blank;  —  by  Second.  Sour  Crout  was  sire  of 
Mambrino's  dam. 

ROYALIST,  imp  red  b.  foaled  1790;  by  imp  Saltram  (winner  of  The 
Derby  in  1 783)  dam  by  Herod,  grandam  by  Marske.  Bred  by  The 
Prince  of  Wales;  imported  into  New  York;  1806  at  Nashville;  1807 


Hardy  Tennessee  Pioneers  51 

(as  property  of  Judge  Robert  Weakley,  William  Patton  Anderson, 
and  Joseph  Coleman,  first  mayor  of  Nashville)  stood  in  charge  of 
J.  W.  Clay  "on  the  hill  adjoining  town  near  the  College  seat." 
Anderson,  for  "most  cogent  reasons,"  advertised  his  half  interest 
for  sale  at  $2,500  cash  or  $3,250  in  negroes,  land  warrants,  young 
mares  or  geldings.  Season  1808  at  R.  C.  Foster's.  Sold  South, 
brought  back  and  died  1814  in  Williamson  County,  property  of 
Hal  Cook. 

STILL  OTHER  GOOD  STALLIONS 
Other  stallions  of  this  decade  were  as  follows: 

BIG  QUICKSILVER,  by  Quicksilver,  dam  by  Shakespeare.  Owned  by 
Simeon  Buford;  1806  at  Nashville;  1808  at  Lower  Ferry. 

BLOODY  FLAG.  Advertised  by  Simeon  Buford  to  stand  at  Lewis 
Demoss'  on  Big  Harpeth,  1808.  Buford  says  he  "was  by  my  cele- 
brated horse,  Union,  out  of  the  dam  of  President." 

BUOY,  alias  BUFORD'S  DEFEAT.  Advertised  by  John  Park  and  David 
Barclay  to  stand  1807,  "two  miles  east  of  Jefferson"  ;  few  best 
mares  $50;  highest  price  of  all  stallions  of  this  decade  —  except 
Truxton  in  one  year.  Judge  William  Williams  said  this  horse 
was  by  Janus  and  got  his  name  from  his  owner,  Bowie.  This 
Bowie  was  probably  a  member  of  the  famous  family  of  Bowie- 
knife  fame  that  lived  awhile  (according  to  Cisco's  "Historic 
Sumner  County")  near  James  Cryer's  farm  in  Sumner  County. 
One  member,  at  least,  of  this  family  was  a  breeder  in  Mississippi 
or  Louisiana  in  after  years. 

CADE,  by  imp  Fearnought,  foaled  17 — ;  died  in  Tennessee,  aged  5 
years. 

CHANTICLEER,  by  old  Chanticleer;  foaled  1798;  died  in  Tennessee, 
the  property  of  Richard  Jordan. 

DRAGON  (Cage's),  by  imp  Dragon,  dam  by  Truxton.  Bred  and 
owned  by  Reuben  Cage,  of  Sumner  County. 

ECLIPSE,  by  Hall's  imp  Eclipse,  dam  Phebe  descended  from  Regulus 
and  Snake;  Maryland  horse;  1806  at  R.  C.  Foster's;  1808  at 
John  CockrilPs  "one  and  one  half  miles  from  Nashville  on  the 
Natchez  road"  —  now  Centennial  Park.  B.  Bosley  owned  this 
horse  at  one  time. 

FITZ  MEDLEY,  by  imp  Medley,  dam  by  Symmes'  Wildair;  g.  dam 
by  Dandridge's  Fearnought;  1804  at  "Weakley's"  in  Davidson 


52        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

County;  1805  at  "I.  Hoopers,"  same  county;  died  1805.  "He 
was  grey  and  very  fine." 

GREY  DIOMED,  foaled  1802,  by  imp.  Diomed,  dam  by  Flag  of  Truce; 
bred  and  owned  by  Daniel  Barksdale  "of  Tennessee"  —  probably 
Montgomery  County. 

PRESIDENT,  ch.  by  Celer,  dam  by  Mark  Anthony.  Owned  by 
Simeon  Buford,  Nashville;  1807  at  the  upper  ferry  in  charge 
of  a  "careful  young  man";  1808  at  Jesse  Mayfield's  "on  the 
Franklin  road  near  Judge  Overton's."  Buford  boldly  affirms  in 
his  advertisement  that  President  beat  Truxton  in  a  4-mile  heat 
race  at  Clover  Bottom  "with  160  on  each"  and  in  Warren  County, 
Kentucky,  with  "150  on  each"  —  a  quarter  race. 

RODNEY,  imp,  foaled  1790,  by  Paymaster  dam  Nina  by  Highflyer. 
Imported  into  Virginia.  Said  to  have  stood  in  Tennessee.  Pay- 
master sired  the  winner  of  the  St.  Leger  in  1786. 

YOUNG  DIOMED,  ch.  foaled  1804;  by  imp  Diomed,  dam  Bellona 
by  Wildair.  Owned  by  Jesse  Westmoreland;  1808  at  Samuel 
Shannon's  8  miles  north  of  Nashville. 

YOUNG  McKiNNEY  Roan,  by  old  McKinney  Roan  by  Celer.  As 
property  of  William  Roberts  stood  1807-08  at  John  Shute's,  William 
Simpson's  and  Col.  Joel  Lewis',  Davidson  County.  Season  pay- 
able "in  produce,  cotton,  pork,  beef,  corn,  rye,  wheat,  oats,  whis- 
key or  brandy." 

A  communication  from  Judge  William  Williams  to  The 
Turf  Register  stated  that  IJryan  O'Lynn  and  Dragon 
stood  in  Tennessee  in  the  years  named,  and  that  the  fol- 
lowing named  horses  stood  in  Tennessee  —  years  not 
remembered  —  between  1805  and  1826: 

BOMPARD,  foaled  about  1796,  by  imp  Obscurity,  dam  by  imp 
Fearnought;  —  by  imp  Janus. 

DUNGANNON,  imp  b.,  foaled  1793;  by  Dungannon,  dam  by  Conduc- 
tor;—  by  Blank;  —  by  Crab.  H.  M.  E.  Imported  in  1799  by  J. 
Tayloe  of  Va.  Stood  in  Sumner  County. 

HEROD,  imp  gr.,  foaled  1792;  by  Young  Herod  son  of  Old  Herod  dam 
by  Conductor;  g.  dam  by  Florizel;  —  by  Matchem.  Imported 
1790  by  John  Hoomes  of  Virginia.  Stood  in  Davidson  County. 

HIGHLANDER,  imp  gr.  foaled  1783;  by  Bordeaux  out  of  Tetotum 
(winner  of  The  Oaks  in  1780)  by  Matchem.  Imported  into  New 
York  in  1794. 


Hardy  Tennessee  Pioneers  53 

TUP,  imp  b.  foaled  1796;   by  Javelin  out  of  Flavia  by  Plunder  by 

Herod.     Stood  at  R.  C.  Foster's. 
VOLUNTEER,  imp  ch.  by  Volunteer,  dam  by  Whipcord  own  brother 

to  Woodpecker.     Bred  by  Col.  O'Kelly.     Imported  1794  by  Col. 

John  Tayloe,  of  Virginia.     Stood  in  Rutherford  County. 

In  two  letters  written  from  "Poplar   Grove,"  in    1856, 
and  printed  in  "Frank  Forester's,"  "The  Horse  of  Ameri- 
ca,"  Vol.    I,   pp.    140-148,   Judge  Williams   mentions   as 
standing  in  Tennessee  in  early  times  —  years  not  given  — 
these  horses  not  elsewhere  included  in  the  author's  list: 

BUCEPHALUS,  b.,  foaled  about  1795;  by  Symmes'  Wildair,  dam  by 
imp  Shark;  —  by  imp  Medley;  —  by  imp  Fearnought.  Bred 
by  John  Jones  of  Virginia,  and  owned  by  Col.  Ed  Ward. 

DIOMED  (Ragland's),  ch.,  foaled  1801;  by  imp  Diomed  dam 
Silverheels;  —  by  imp  Janus;  —  by  imp  Fearnought;  —  by  imp 
Jolly  Roger.  Bred  by  L.  Ragland  of  Virginia. 

DIOMED  (Second),  called  Randolph's;  gr.  foaled  about  1801;  by 
imp  Diomed  dam  by  imp  Clockfast;  he  by  Gimcrack  dam  by 
Regulus.  Bred  by  William  Randolph  of  Cumberland  County, 
Virginia. 

DIOMEDON,  b.,  foaled  1803;  by  imp  Diomed,  dam  by  Hobb's  Augus- 
tus. Bred  by  Capt.  Ben.  Ward  of  Nottoway  County,  Virginia. 

WILDAIR  (Weakley's),  b.  foaled  1791;  by  Symmes'  Wildair,  dam 
by  Fearnought. 

Judge  Williams'  list  included,  also,  the  following 
named  horses  that  cannot  be  identified:  Cross'  Jupiter 
by  Janus;  Lewis'  Comet  by  Harry  Hill's  Janus;  Blake- 
more's  Sterne;  J.  Thompson's  Celer  out  of  a  Bellair; 
imp  Childers  —  the  "imp"  doubtless  error  —  and  Suwar- 
row,  said  to  be  from  Kentucky.  There  were  three 
Jupiters  by  Janus. 

STALLIONS  BETWEEN  1810  AND  1820 

The  most  distinguished  stallions  of  this  decade  were 

Top  Gallant,  Wilkes'  Wonder,  Tennessee  Oscar  and  Pacolet. 

TOP  GALLANT,  a  black  legged  bay,  by  Gallatan  (best 


54        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

son  of  imp  Bedford),  dam  by  Symmes'  Wildair;  — by 
Black- and- All-Black;  —  by  King  Herod;  —  by  imp 
Partner;  —  by  Apollo.  Bred  by  Hon.  Thomas  Blount 
of  Jones  County,  Georgia,  and  purchased  from  him  by 
Col.  George  Elliott  about  1812  and  stood  until  1817,  or 
longer,  at  his  farm.  He  was  then  sold,  possibly  to  Ken- 
tucky. Elliott  paid  $1,500  for  Top  Gallant  as  a  colt  —  a 
large  price  for  the  time. 

WONDER,  first  named  Hazard  and  later  called  Wilkes' 
Wonder,  and  sometimes  Little  Wonder,  was  by  imp 
Diomed;  dam  Mary  Gray  by  Tippoo  Saib  (he  by  the 
Lindsay  Arabian);  —  by  Goode's  Brimmer;  —  by  imp 
Silver  Eye;  —  by  imp  Valiant;  —  by  imp  Jolly  Roger;  — 
imp  Mary  Gray  by  Roundhead. 

Silver  Eye  by  theCuIIen  Arabian;  Valiant  by  Dormouse. 

Wonder  was  foaled  about  1800  and  was  bred  by  Francis 
Eppes  of  Chesterfield  County,  Virginia. 

At  Newmarket,  Virginia,  the  spring  he  was  four  years 
old  Wonder  ran  and  won  his  first  race.  He  lost  his  second 
because  of  a  mistake  made  by  his  jockey,  and  ran  second 
in  his  third  race  although  laboring  under  the  strangles. 
The  next  year  he  ran  only  five  races,  viz.,  Newmarket, 
Smithfield,  Norfolk,  Warrenton  and  Belfield,  but  won  all 
of  them.  Among  the  horses  he  defeated  was  Monticello, 
bred  —  if  not  then  owned  —  by  Thomas  Jefferson,  and 
another  horse  by  Diomed.  The  next  spring  he  covered  75 
mares  and  that  fall  defeated  the  famous  Bumper  and 
Agnes  (both  by  Bellair)  in  a  4-mile  heat  race  at  Belfield  — 
"hard  in  hand"  when  the  track  was  knee  deep  in  mud 
and  water.  At  Norfolk  he  contended  with  Eolus  by  Bed- 
ford, Top  Gallant  by  Druid  and  Monticello  and  Bumper, 
in  a  4-mile  heat  race.  He  won  the  first  heat,  lost  the 
second  to  Eolus  by  a  head,  the  third  by  a  few  feet  and  the 
fourth  by  reason  of  a  plate  slipping. 


Hardy  Tennessee  Pioneers  55 

Wilkes  bought  Wonder  after  his  second  race  and  owned 
him  when  he  ran  his  last.  After  that  he  was  brought  to 
Tennessee  and  stood  at  the  farm  of  Rev.  Hubbard  Saun- 
ders,  in  Sumner  County.  Wonder's  pedigree  and  per- 
formances as  here  given  were  taken  from  a  handbill 
issued  by  Rev.  Hubbard  Saunders  advertising  Wonder 
for  the  season  of  1813. 

Wonder  died  at  Franklin  in  February,  1815,  the  day 
after  arriving  there  from  Sumner  County.  James  Hicks, 
of  Franklin,  stood  a  chestnut  horse  from  Virginia  named 
Wonder  by  Diomed,  in  1808,  but  he  is  said  not  to  have 
been  the  Saunders  horse. 

Wilkes'  Wonder  was  a  chestnut  about  15  hands,  and 
one  inch  high.  His  thigh  was  "rather  lean  for  beauty  but 
not  for  action.  In  every  other  point  he  was  perfect,"  said 
Rev.  Hubbard  Saunders.  He  contributed  greatly  to  the 
blood  of  Tennessee  stock.  His  son,  Young  Wonder,  was 
a  fine  horse  and  his  daughter,  Bet  Bosley,  was  a  famous 
brood  mare  whose  name  appears  often  in  latter  day 
pedigrees.  Hazard,  another  daughter,  was  a  fine  brood 
mare,  owned  by  Alex  Ewing,  of  Davidson  County. 

PACOLET,  dapple  gray,  15!  hands  high,  foaled  in  1806, 
was  bred  by  Francis  Eppes,  of  Virginia;  sold  for  $179  to 
Col.  W.  R.  Johnson  who  trained  and  ran  him  in  all  the 
races  he  ran  before  coming  to  Tennessee,  where  he  was 
brought  by  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson  at  a  cost  of  $3,000  to 
beat  Haynie's  Maria.  He  was  by  imp  Citizen  dam 
Mary  Grey  by  Tippoo  Saib.  See  WONDER. 

Citizen  was  by  Pacolet  by  Blank;  his  dam  Princess  by 
Turk  by  Regulus;  his  g.  dam  Fairy  Queen  by  Young 
Cade,  he  by  Old  Cade;  his  g.  g.  dam  Black  Eyes  by 
Crab,  out  of  the  Warlock  Galloway,  by  Snake;  —  by 
the  Bald  Galloway,  etc.,  to  the  Byerly  Turk. 

Citizen  was  foaled  in  1785.     He  was  15  hands  and  one 


56        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

inch  high.  He  won  19  races  in  England;  14  of  them 
4-mile  races;  6  of  them  he  won  at  three  heats,  beat- 
ing the  best  horses  in  England,  and  is  said  never  to 
have  lost  a  race  when  the  heats  were  broken.  He  was 
sent  to  the  West  Indies,  thence  imported  into  North 
Carolina  in  1803.  In  six  years  he  covered  508  mares  at 
$28  each,  and  netted  his  owner  $10,000.  He  sired  the 
dam  of  Sir  Charles  and  the  dam  of  Stockholder.  His 
cross  was  highly  esteemed  in  Tennessee.  He  died  and 
was  buried  at  Oaklands,  the  home  of  Col.  W.  R.  Johnson, 
according  to  one  authority;  Bruce  says  he  died  in  Ten- 
nessee in  1809. 

In  1814  and  1815  Pacolet  was  advertised  by  Gen.  An- 
drew Jackson,  Col.  Edward  Ward  and  James  Jackson  to 
stand  at  J.  W.  Clay's.  In  1816  he  was  advertised  by  his 
owners,  James  Jackson  and  John  Childress  (or  Childers) 
to  stand  at  Clay's.  In  1817  he  stood  at  "the  Flat  below 
Nashville."  Later  he  was  taken  to  Mississippi  but  was 
brought  back  to  Tennessee  in  1821  or  before  as  the  prop- 
erty of  Col.  George  Elliott,  and  stood  at  Elliott's  farm 
until  his  death  about  1825  or  1826.  Service  $20;  $40. 
Pacolet  was  the  sire  of  many  horses  and  mares  famed  for 
their  performances  and  their  offspring. 

"Citizen,"  wrote  Judge  Williams,  "had  more  accurate 
proportions  and  higher  finish  —  a  more  game,  Arabian 
look  and  carriage  than  any  native  or  imported  that  I 
ever  had  the  pleasure  to  look  upon.  Pacolet  had  the 
Arabian  air  but  wanted  something  of  his  sire's  finish  in 
the  shoulder.  Yet  his  bearing  was  proud  and  lofty." 

OTHER  DISTINGUISHED  HORSES 

Other  stallions  that  stood  in  Tennessee  during  this 
decade  were: 


Hardy  Tennessee  Pioneers  57 

BASHAW,  by  Grand  Arabian;  foaled  in  1795,  died  in  Tennessee 
1819  the  property  of  Mr.  Ball  (or  Bell?)  of  Virginia. 

BOASTER,  imp.  b.  foaled  1795;  by  Dungannon,  dam  by  Justice. 
Imported  in  1811  by  Walter  Bell  of  Winchester,  Virginia,  from 
whom  he  was  purchased;  i8i6at  John  Harding's  on  "old  Natchez 
road";  $25;  $40;  1819  at  Henry  Wade's  6|  miles  southwest  of 
Nashville.  Died  same  year. 

BRYAN  O'LvNN,  foaled  1796;  by  Aston  dam  by  Le  Sang;  —  by 
Regulus.  Le  Sang  sired  the  St.  Leger  winner  of  1777.  Bryan 
O'Lynn  imported  into  North  Carolina  by  Gov.  Turner.  Stood  at 
J.  Shute's,  Davidson  County,  1811-12.  Died  in  Georgia. 

CONQUEROR,  b.  foaled  1808;  by  imp  Wonder  (Cripple),  dam  by 
imp  Saltram.  H  M  E.  Stood  1815  at  Henry  Cook's,  Williamson 
County;  $40;  1829  at  HoIIan  Davis',  Williamson  County.  Died 
1830. 

COOK'S  BELLAIR,  son  of  Tayloe's  Bellair,  dam  by  Hickman's  Inde- 
pendence son  of  Fearnought.  Williamson  County. 

DRAGON,  imp  ch.,  foaled  1787;  by  Woodpecker,  out  of  Juno  by 
Spectator;  —  by  Blank;  —  by  Childers.  Imported  by  Col.  John 
Hoomes  of  Virginia.  Stood  at  R.  C.  Foster's,  1811-12.  Died  1812. 

FLORIZEL  (formerly  Grey  Tail)  foaled  1811;  by  Ball's  Florizel, 
dam  by  Wildair.  Property  of  W.  B.  and  George  Tankesley; 
1819  at  James  Ridley's  stable,  "Pacolet's  old  stand,"  at  the 
"lower  ferry/'  Nashville;  1826,  as  property  of  John  M.  Robert- 
son, stood  at  Joseph  Scales'  south  of  Nashville  and  at  John 
Griddle's,  McGavock's  ferry. 

JACKSON,  dk.  ch.;  by  Wonder,  dam  by  Nutall's  Whiskey  (by  imp 
Saltram)  out  of  a  Bellair  mare;  1815  and  1816  at  Dr.  Roger  B. 
Sappington's,  Nashville;  $16. 

MESSINA,  advertised  by  Dr.  Roger  B.  Sappington  to  stand  1819  at 
John  Harding's;  pedigree  not  given.  Cannot  find  this  horse  in 
Stud  books.  Probably  MASSENA  by  imp  Citizen;  or  the  one 
by  Pacolet,  dam  by  Ragland's  Diomed. 

OSCAR  (Tennessee).  See  Peyton's  "Reminiscences,"  No.  8.  In 
advertising  Oscar  to  stand  season  1819  at  his  farm  "adjoining" 
Nashville  (service  $20.)  Dr.  Roger  B.  Sappington,  his  then  owner 
included  certificates  from  prominent  men  who  saw  Oscar  win  one 
or  more  of  the  races  referred  to  by  Peyton.  These  men  were  Giles 
Harding,  John  Harding,  Peter  Randolph,  Henry  Wade,  Alex 
Ewing,  William  Carroll,  Dr.  John  Shelby  and  John  C.  Hicks. 
Dr.  Shelby  and  Dr.  McNairy  diagnosed  Oscar  as  the  swiftest 


58        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

horse  in  the  United  States.  In  1822  Oscar  stood  at  Edwin  Smith's 
three  miles  south  of  Nashville  "on  the  main  road  to  Franklin." 
After  that  he  stood  in  Sumner  County.  Among  his  get  were 
Prosperine,  Napoleon,  Columbus,  Josephine,  Bolivar  and  other 
fine  runners. 

PHOENIX.  There  were  two  horses  of  this  name  on  record  as  standing 
in  Tennessee.  One,  according  to  Judge  Williams,  was  "by  Vene- 
tian, imp  dam  Zenobia,  by  Don  Carlos,  from  Maryland." 
The  other  was  by  Dragon,  dam  Portia  by  Volunteer;  —  by  King 
Herod.  Imported  into  Virginia  and  died  in  Montgomery  County, 
Tennessee,  in  1819.  Portia  and  another  of  Volunteer's  get  won  The 
Oaks  and  Spread  Eagle  by  Volunteer  won  The  Derby.  See  EAGLE. 

STUMP  THE  DEALER,  by  imp  Bryan  O'Lynn,  dam  by  Grey  Diomed. 
H  Bred  by  Mr.  Alston,  South  Carolina.  Advertised  by  John 
T.  Macon  to  stand  1819  at  Hugh  F.  Bell's,  near  Nashville.  Fall 
season  1829  at  N.  P.  Carter's  on  Lebanon  road. 


STALLIONS  FROM  1820  TO  1830 

Besides  Pacolet  and  Tennessee  Oscar,  whose  services 
continued  into  this  decade,  the  most  celebrated  sires  were 
Stockholder  and  Timoleon. 

STOCKHOLDER,  b.;    by  Sir  Archy,  dam  by  imp  Citizen, 

g.   dam    by   imp    Stirling;  —  by    imp    Mousetrap;  —  by 

Harris'  Eclipse;  —  by  imp  Janus;  —  by  imp  Fearnought; 

—  by  Apollo; —  by  imp  Partner;  —  by  imp  Silver  Eye;  — 

by  imp  Jolly  Roger;  out  of  imp  Mary  Gray  by  Roundhead. 

Stirling  descended  from  Highflyer,  Herod,  the  Byerly 
Turk  and  Place's  White  Turk. 

Stockholder  was  bred  by  Henry  Gotten  of  Halifax 
County,  North  Carolina.  He  made  an  "enviable  reputa- 
tion" in  Virginia.  He  was  brought  from  North  Carolina  to 
Sumner  County  by  O.  Shelby,  at  a  cost  of  $6,000.  His  first 
season  in  Sumner  seems  to  have  been  in  1 825,  when  he  stood 
at  O.  Shelby's;  in  1826  he  stood  at  Shelby's  again.  He  cov- 
ered 135  mares  his  first  season  in  Sumner,  120  the  second 
and  1 60  the  third.  In  1829  he  stood  at  the  farm  of  Rev. 


Hardy  Tennessee  Pioneers  59 

H.  M.  Cryer;  in  1834  at  Stockley  Donelson's,  Hermitage; 
$40;  $60;  in  1835  at  William  Pillow's  three  miles  south- 
west of  Columbia.  Thomas  Barry,  of  Sumner,  owned 
Stockholder  for  some  time;  sold  him  to  Long  Brothers  of 
Christian  County,  Kentucky,  for  $4,000,  and  they  sold  him 
to  A.  B.  Newsom  for  $4,500.  Newsom  took  him  to  his 
farm  and  had  his  pedigree  registered  in  the  office  of  the 
Register  of  Deeds  of  Wilson  County.  In  1833  eight  of 
Stockholder's  get  won  14  races,  running  31  heats  and 
71  miles.  In  1836,  seven  won  14  races,  running  25  heats 
and  75!  miles.  In  1837,  16  of  his  get  won  18  races,  running 
37  heats  and  53  miles.  From  1832  to  1840,  inclusive,  his 
get  won  1 12  races.  As  brood  mares  Stockholder's  daughters 
rivaled  Pacolet's. 

TIMOLEON,  foaled  1813;  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  by  imp 
Sal  tram,  g.  dam  by  Symmes'  Wildair;  —  by  imp  Fear- 
nought; —  by  imp  Driver;  —  by  imp  Fallower;  —  by 
imp  Vampire.  Wildair's  dam  was  by  Jolly  Roger.  Driv- 
er's grandam  was  by  Herod.  From  other  sources,  also, 
as  previously  shown,  Timoleon  inherited  the  blood  of 
Herod;  also  of  Matchem;  and  from  several  sources  the 
blood  of  O' Kelly's  Eclipse,  the  two  Childers,  etc.  Fal- 
lower  was  by  Blank,  out  of  a  Partner  mare;  Vampire  was 
by  Regulus,  second  dam  by  Partner. 

Timoleon's  hind  quarters  appeared  higher  than  his 
forehand  in  which  respect,  as  well  as  in  others,  he  bore  a 
strong  resemblance  to  his  great  grand-sire,  O' Kelly's 
Eclipse.  It  was  this  peculiar  conformation  in  Eclipse, 
together  with  his  uncommon  strength,  that  put  his  agility 
and  stride  upon  a  par. 

Timoleon  was  15  hands  3  inches  in  height;  a  light  chest- 
nut, his  only  mark  a  small  star  in  the  forehead.  He  was 
bred  by  Benjamin  Jones  of  Greensville  County,  Virginia, 
and  ran  only  in  his  third  and  fourth  years. 


60        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

In  1816  he  won  the  sweepstakes  over  the  Petersburg, 
Virginia,  course,  mile  heats  in  1 147  and  1 148.  In  the  same 
year  over  the  same  course  he  and  Reality  ran  three  heats 
of  two  miles  each  in  3 : 47,  3 : 48  and  3 : 49  —  won  by  Reality. 
In  1817  over  the  same  course  they  ran  both  heats  of  four 
miles  when  excessively  heavy  from  rain,  each  in  8:04!  — 
won  by  Timoleon. 

In  February,  1818  Timoleon,  owing  to  an  accident,  was 
stopped  and  for  that  reason  was  beat.  This  was  the  last 
race  he  ever  ran,  having  proven  himself  the  swiftest  horse 
in  Virginia  —  the  victor  over  Reality  and  Lady  Lightfoot. 
All  in  all  he  started  in  seventeen  races,  won  nine,  "walked 
over"  for  four  and  lost  two. 

At  three  years  old  Timoleon  was  sold  to  Col.  William 
Wynn  of  Petersburg,  Virginia,  for  $2,500;  the  next  year 
Col.  Wynn  sold  him  to  Robert  R.  Johnson,  brother  of 
Col.  W.  R.  Johnson,  for  $4,000,  and  ten  days  later 
offered  $5,000  to  get  him  back,  believing  him  "superior 
to  any  race  horse  that  ever  turned  a  gravel  on  any 
race  course  in  the  United  States." 

After  Timoleon  broke  down  he  stood  at  Wynn's  and 
Johnson's  stables  and  in  1819  was  sold  for  $4,300  to  Col. 
David  Dancy  who  later  moved  to  Madison  County, 
Alabama,  taking  Timoleon  with  him. 

In  1829  Timoleon,  still  the  property  of  Col.  Dancy, 
stood  at  the  Nashville  race  track  "two  miles  below 
town"  in  charge  of  William  C.  Davis,  proprietor  of  the 
track;  service  $30;  $50.  In  1831  and  1832  he  was  back 
in  Charles  City  County,  Virginia,  where,  in  the  latter 
year,  he  got  a  certain  horse  named  for  a  popular  card 
game  of  that  period  —  Boston. 

After  his  brother  had  sold  Timoleon  Col.  W.  R.  Johnson, 
who  had  seen  him  run  all  his  Virginia  races,  wrote  that 
his  performances  at  "from  one  to  4-mile  heats  would  do 


Hardy  Tennessee  Pioneers  61 

credit  to  the  best  runner  in  this  country  or  in  Europe; 
and  his  style  of  going,  the  most  superior  action,  his  size 
and  blood,  entitle  him  to  rank  first  rate  as  a  stallion." 
Results  confirmed  this  opinion.  Timoleon's  son  Wash- 
ington, at  three  years,  beat  the  famous  Henry,  same  age, 
in  four  heats,  and  was  the  best  3-year-old  of  that  year. 
Another  son,  Hotspur,  won  all  his  races  except  the  one 
in  which  he  broke  down  to  Flirtilla.  His  daughter,  Sally 
Walker  (dam  by  imp  Dragon),  was  superior  to  all  other 
racers  of  her  time  except  Mons.  Tonson. 

"  Frank  Forester"  said  Timoleon  was  the  "best  son  of  Sir 
Archy  and  progenitor  of  half  the  best  horses  in  the  country 
of  the  present  day"  -  1857. 

In  1838,  ii  of  Timoleon's  get  won  20  races,  running  41 
heats  and  120  miles.  In  the  same  years  that  Stockholder's 
get  won  112,  Timoleon's  won  in.  Timoleon's  reputation 
as  a  sire  appears  to  have  been  founded  on  the  performances 
of  a  comparative  few  of  his  get,  —  chiefly  the  performances 
of  Boston. 

Boston  was  foaled  in  Henrico  County,  Virginia,  the 
property  of  John  Wickham,  the  eminent  jurisconsult,  of 
Richmond.  At  two  years  of  age  he  was  sold  to  Nathaniel 
Rives,  of  Richmond,  for  $800.  In  May,  1839,  he  was  sold 
to  James  Long  of  Washington,  D.C.,  for  $12,500.  Long 
subsequently  sold  half  interest  in  him  to  Col.  W.  R.  John- 
son. Boston  was  first  trained  by  Capt.  John  Belcher, 
1836-37;  after  1838,  by  Arthur  Taylor.  His  first 
jockey  was  Cornelius,  a  negro  boy;  his  second  Gilbert 
W.  Patrick,  and  his  third,  Craig. 

His  dam  was  by  Ball's  Florizel  who  never  paid  a  forfeit 
and  who,  without  feeling  the  touch  of  whip  or  spur,  won 
every  heat  of  every  race  he  ran.  His  grandam  was  by  imp 
Alderman  by  PotSos;  his  g.  grandam  by  imp  Clockfast. 

Boston  was  a  trifle  over   15 J  hands  high,  a  chestnut 


62        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

with  a  white  stripe  down  his  face  and  white  stockings 
on  his  hind  feet.  After  he  got  on  familiar  terms  with 
fame  he  was  called  "Old  White  Nose."  He  had  no 
beauty  to  brag  on,  but  in  strength,  substance,  bone  and 
speed  he  was  a  prodigy.  Time  and  time  again  did  the 
proprietors  of  race  tracks  persuade  his  owners  not  to  run 
him,  as  his  entrance  into  any  contest  would  destroy  the 
sport.  His  owners  offered  to  bet  several  English  sports- 
men $50,000  to  $40,000  that  he  could  beat  any  horse  they 
could  bring  from  England.  Declined.  He  started  in  45 
races,  won  40,  30  of  which  were  of  4-mile  heats,  nine  3-mile 
heats,  and  one  2-mile  heats.  Up  to  December,  1841,  his 
winnings  amounted  to  $49,500.  In  1841  he  covered  40 
mares  at  $100  each.  He  won  several  races  in  1842  and 
then  retired  from  the  turf  sound  and  free  of  blemish.  His 
career  in  the  stud  was  no  less  remarkable  than  his  success 
as  a  racer.  In  1853,  27  of  his  get  won  56  races,  131  heats, 
230  miles;  in  1854,  21  won  50  races,  109  heats,  245  J 
miles.  "The  Turfman,"  wrote  Hamilton  Busbey  in 
Harper's  Magazine  in  1870,  "judges  a  horse  by  his  bloody 
his  /orm,  his  deeds,  and  his  produce;  and  judging  by  such, 
Boston  is  pronounced  the  greatest  race  horse  that  America 
ever  produced."  His  right  to  first  place  in  the  Hall  of 
Fame  would  have  gone  unchallenged  but  for  the  career 
of  his  own  great  son,  Lexington;  —  this  has  occasioned 
difference  of  opinion  among  horsemen.  It  was  through 
Timoleon,  Boston  and  Lexington  that  the  Archy  blood 
was  mostly  transmitted  to  Tennessee  thoroughbreds  of 
the  post-bellum  period.  All  of  Capt.  James  Franklin's 
foundation  mares  at  "Kennesaw"  were  by  Lexington, 
notably  Nevada,  dam  of  Luke  Blackburn,  sire  of  Proctor 
Knott.  Gen.  Harding  thought  Lexington  a  greater  sire 
than  any  predecessor.1 

1  For  sketch  of  Lexington  see  Addenda  E. 


Hardy  Tennessee  Pioneers  63 


OTHER  NOTED  STALLIONS 

Next  to   Pacolet,   Stockholder,   Tennessee  Oscar  and 
Timoleon  the  most  celebrated  stallions  of  this  decade  were: 

BAGDAD,  brown  horse  of  purest  Arabian  blood.  Sold  by  Hassana 
de  Gris,  Minister  to  England  from  Tripoli,  to  George  Barclay  of 
New  York,  from  whom  he  was  purchased  in  1823  by  John  Harding, 
representing  a  company  of  Nashville  men,  of  which  William 
Williams  was  Secretary.  Price  paid,  $8,000.  Season  1830  at 
Thomas  Martin's,  four  miles  on  the  Gallatin  road;  1835  at  Thomas 
Alderson's  stable,  Nashville.  Bagdad  sired  several  good  horses 
but  most  sportsmen  of  that  period  preferred  the  Archys  and 
Pacolets,  and  fought  Bagdad. 

BLUSTER,  imp  dk.  b.,  16  hands,  foaled  1808;  by  Orlando  (son  of 
Whiskey)  dam  by  Pegasus;  —  by  Highflyer.  His  fifth  dam  was 
Herod's  dam.  Whiskey  by  imp  Saltram,  out  of  Calash  by  Herod. 
Imported  into  Virginia;  1826  at  Giles  Harding's,  7  miles  southwest 
of  Nashville.  Died  1828.  Whiskey  sired  two  winners  of  The 
Oaks. 

CONSTITUTION,  dk.  s.,  foaled  about  1805;  by  imp  Diomed,  dam  by 
imp  Saltram.  Stood  1825-26  at  John  Shute's.  "Owing  to  the 
hardness  of  the  times  he  will  be  suffered  to  serve  at  $25."  Died 
1827  in  Bedford  County. 

EAGLE,  imp  b.,  foaled  1796;  16  hands  high;  got  by  Volunteer  out 
of  a  Highflyer  mare.  Bred  by  Sir  Francis  Standish.  Imported 
into  Virginia  in  1812  by  Mr.  Bell.  Season  1821  at  Henry  Wade's. 
Advertised  by  Montgomery  Bell  to  stand  season  1822  at  John 
Harding's,  Belle  Meade.  Eagle  was  a  "short-race"  horse  but  was 
very  fleet.  His  winnings  in  England  amounted  to  $933,373.  He 
was  full  brother  to  Spread  Eagle,  who  died  in  Kentucky  in  1805, 
Eagle  died  in  Kentucky  in  1826.  See  PHOENIX.  To  show  Mont- 
gomery Bell's  enthusiasm  for  the  thoroughbred  this  extract  is 
made  from  his  advertisement  of  Eagle,  dated  Dec.  15,  1821: 
"Eagle  combines  more  power  and  beauty  than  any  horse  on 
earth  —  more  even  than  human  mind  can  imagine." 

MUZZLE  DIOMED,  by  imp  Diomed,  g.  dam  by  imp  Fearnought. 
Said  to  have  been  first  colt  got  by  his  sire  after  coming  to  Amer- 
ica. Bred  by  Col.  William  Nelson,  Caroline  County,  Virginia;  1820 
at  Samuel  Savage's  three  miles  west  of  Columbia.  Died  in  Georgia. 


64        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

NAPOLEON,  ch.  s.,  foaled  1815;  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  by  imp  Sir 
Harry  (winner  of  The  Derby  in  1798)  son  of  Sir  Peter  Teazle;  — 
grandam  by  imp  Dare  Devil.  Bred  in  Virginia;  purchased  by 
Col.  George  Elliott  and  stood  in  1825,  and  until  his  death  in  1830, 
at  Elliott's  farm.  Wallace  says  Napoleon's  grandam  was  by 
Chanticleer. 

PEACEMAKER,  by  imp  Diomed,  dam  by  Black-and-AII-BIack  (Othello) ; 
foaled  1801;  bred  in  Virginia;  sold  to  General  Greer  of  Tennes- 
see and  stood  here  in  his  latter  years.  He  died  in  1827. 

SIR  WILLIAM  (Clay's),  ch.  foaled  1816;  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  Bellona 
by  Bellair.  Brought  from  Virginia  to  Tennessee;  1829  at  J.  W. 
Clay's,  near  Lebanon  road. 

SIR  WILLIAM  (Richardson's)  by  Ball's  Florizel,  dam  by  imp  Clifton; 
her  dam  by  Old  Celer.  Bred  by  Gov.  J.  B.  Richardson  of  South 
Carolina;  1829  at  Jubal  Richardson's  near  Newsom's  Mill  on 
Big  Harpeth.  This  pedigree  is  from  Jubal  Richardson's  adver- 
tisement. Other  authorities  say  he  was  by  Sir  Archy. 

YOUNG  TRUXTON,  dk.  b.,  16  hands  i  inch  high.  Advertisement  in 
Nashville  Whig  of  1822  signed  by  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson  says: 
"Young  Truxton  was  got  by  my  celebrated  running  horse,  Trux- 
ton,  dam  by  Young  Wildair,  grandam  by  imp  Master  Stevens  out 
of  Capt.  Alexander  Ewing's  fine  brood  mare." 

The  General  announced,  furthermore,  that  Young  Truxton  would 
stand  that  season  "at  my  stable  where  I  now  live"  half  of  the 
season  and  the  other  half  at  the  farm  of  the  widow  of  William 
Donelson,  ten  miles  from  Nashville,  on  the  Gallatin  road.  Also 
that  the  charge  for  service  would  be  "300  pounds  of  good  mer- 
chantable seed  cotton  or  $18  in  cash." 

Other  good  stallions  that  stood  in  Tennessee  between 
1820  and  1830  were: 

BAY   DIOMED,  by  imp  Diomed,  out  of  a  Wildair  mare;     1825  at 

Maj.  Colin  Campbell's,  Carter's  Creek,  Maury  County. 
CUMBERLAND,  gr.,  by  Pacolet,  out  of  Virginia  by  imp  Dare  Devil. 

Bred  by  James  Jackson.    Sold  to  Mr.  Hyde  of  Davidson  County. 
NASHVILLE,  by  Oscar,  out  of  a  Pacolet  mare;   1 829  at  stable  of  Joseph 

T.  Elliston,  Nashville. 
SIR  JAMES,  ch.  s.  16  hands  high;  by  Ball's  Florizel,  dam  by  Madison. 

Bred  by  Maj.  Wm.  Gaines  of  Virginia;    1826  at  James  Dabbs,' 

4  miles  east  of  Nashville. 


Hardy  Tennessee  Pioneers  65 

WASHINGTON,   by   Pacolet,  out  of  Rosey  Clack.     At  O.  Shelby's, 

Sumner  County. 
YOUNG  MEDLEY,  by  Harris'  Young  Doublehead.    Owned  by  Henry 

Wade  &  Co.;    1829  at  Robert  Hills,  Hillsborough,  and  several 

places  in  Davidson  County. 
YOUNG  WONDER,  by  Wilkes'  Wonder.     Stood  at  Wm.  D.  Phillips, 

seven  miles  north  of  Nashville  and  at  David  McGavock's  ferry 

stable,  in  1829.     Phillips'   advertisement  said  Young  Wonder's 

dam  was  by  Buford's  President.1 

1  For  other  information  of  Tennessee  horses  mentioned  in  this 
chapter,  and  others  of  early  days  not  mentioned,  see  Addenda  D. 


CHAPTER  V 
KNEE  DEEP  IN  CLOVER 

IN  the  breeding  and  turf  interests  of  the  United  States, 
as  a  whole,  the  decade  beginning  with  1830  is  marked  with 
several  interesting  features:  (i)  increase  in  growth  and 
popularity;  (2)  the  continuation  of  the  Archy  family's 
monopoly;  (3)  the  continuation  of  the  rivalry  between 
Archy  and  Eclipse  stock;  (4)  the  beginning  of  a  long 
contest  between  the  advocates  of  native  and  imported 
stock;  and  (5)  the  rise  and  supremacy  of  imp  Leviathan. 
How  Tennessee  stock  profited  by  these  conditions  will 
be  told  in  due  order. 

As  far  as  the  records  show,  from  August,  1829,  to  Sep- 
tember, 1834,  the  get  of  only  six  imported  stallions  in  the 
United  States  were  among  the  winners,  and  these  get 
won  only  15  races.  This  supremacy  of  native  stock  was 
due  almost  entirely  to  Sir  Archy  and  his  numerous  sons. 
They  enjoyed  a  monopoly  that  is  without  a  parallel, 
except  that  of  the  Godolphin  Arabian  and,  perhaps,  that 
of  Lexington.  This  monopoly  began  in  the  early  *2o's, 
before  the  records  were  kept  in  detail,  and  continued 
until  1840  or  later.  A  few  illustration  will  suffice. 

Forty-two  native  stallions  were  the  sires  of  137  winners 
of  234  races  run  between  August,  1829,  and  December, 
1830.  Of  these  Sir  Archy  and  20  of  his  sons  were  the 
sires  of  99  winners  of  170  races,  leaving  the  other  21  horses 
with  38  winners  of  64  races. 

Thirty-one  of  Sir  Archy 's  sons  were  the  sires   of    186 


Knee  Deep  in  Clover  67 

winners  of  421  3-mile  and  4-mile  heat  races  run  in  the 
seven  years  between  1829  and  1837.  The  other  30  stal- 
lions, native  and  imported  (named  in  the  table  printed 
in  The  Spirit  of  the  Times,  from  which  these  figures  were 
taken),  that  were  not  sons  of  Sir  Archy,  were  the  sires  of 
91  winners  of  176  3-mile  heat  and  4-mile  heat  races. 

Of  the  1 60  stallions  advertised  for  service  in  the  United 
States  in  the  spring  of  1839,  Sir  Archy  got  21;  was  the 
grandsire  on  his  sons'  side  of  43  and  the  grandsire  on  the 
dams'  side  of  13  —  in  all  77  of  the  1 15  native  bred  stallions 
were  Sir  Archy Js  sons  or  grandsons. 

Although  the  Archy  blood  showed  no  signs  of  giving 
out,  and  although  good  4-mile  horses  in  England  were 
limited  to  a  very  few,  many  breeders  believed  that  the 
infusion  of  new  blood  would  be  advantageous;  and  be- 
tween 1830  and  1840  many  importations  were  made  into 
the  several  states.  Chief  among  these  "progressive" 
breeders  —  and  they  were  merely  harking  back  to  the  old 
days  —  were  James  Jackson  and  Col.  George  Elliott. 
They  had  a  hard  tussle  with  the  "reactionaries"  of  the 
Archy-Pacolet  school,  strongly  entrenched,  as  these 
"reactionaries"  were,  behind  the  good  results  of  long 
experience.  This  faction  was  largely  in  the  majority  in 
Tennessee  and  remained  so  for  several  years.  Jackson 
and  Elliott  knew  the  power  of  the  opposition,  but  followed 
their  own  bent,  nevertheless.  They  met  their  opponents 
always  on  half-way  ground  and  a  few  years'  experience 
demonstrated  the  soundness  of  their  judgment  —  if  im- 
mediate results  are  to  control.  The  Archy  family,  as 
such,  continued  their  supremacy  over  every  other  family 
and  over  many  families  together.  But  as  between  par- 
ticular individuals  of  the  Archy  tribe  and  particular 
importations,  the  latter  soon  won  recognition  as  the 
equals  and,  in  many  instances,  the  superiors  of  the 


68        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

former;  and  the  offspring  of  these  importations  were 
actually  permitted  to  graze  in  the  same  pasture  with  the 
Archys  and  Pacolets  and  romp  and  play  on  terms  of  per- 
fect equality.  The  success,  as  sires,  of  several  of  these 
early  importations  brought  others  from  year  to  year, 
and  in  1840  the  foreign  horses,  not  one-fifth  in  number, 
did  more  than  one-half  in  performance.  This  according 
to  "Frank  Forester"  who,  in  summarizing  his  tabulations 
in  1857,  said:  "It  is  indisputably  proved  by  the  above 
that  a  far  less  number  of  imported  stallions  have  got  a  far 
greater  number  of  winners  than  the  American  stallions, 
in  the  last  eight  and  twenty  years.  And  further,  that  the 
winning  stock  of  the  English  stallions  have  won  rather  a 
larger  number  of  heats  and  run  a  greater  number  of  miles, 
each  for  each,  than  those  of  the  Americans." 

Whether  these  results  were  attributable  entirely  to  the 
new  blood  or,  in  part,  to  the  "old  reliables"  with  whom 
the  imported  horses  were  mated,  is  a  question  the  writer 
leaves  to  others,  while  he  keeps  to  the  main  point,  viz. : 
the  effect  the  conditions  set  forth  above  had  on  the 
Tennessee  stock. 

Between  1825  and  1840  Sir  Archy  contributed  to  the 
Tennessee  stallion  class  17  sons,  14  grandsons  in  the  male 
line  and  6  in  the  female  line  —  all  in  the  stallion  class. 
His  mares  not  counted.  So  much  for  the  Archy  monop- 
oly. American  Eclipse  and  six  of  his  sons  stood  in  Ten- 
nessee —  so  much  for  the  rivalry  between  the  Archys 
and  Eclipses.  To  show  the  merit  of  other  horses  whose 
blood  permeated  Tennessee  stock  some  comparisons  must 
be  made.  The  facts  stated  are  fished  out  of  "  Forester's  " 
tables  which  were  compiled  from  reports  in  The  Turf 
Register  to  show  the  relative  rank  of  native  and  imported 
stallions,  in  the  aggregate.  "Forester's"  tables  differ  some- 
what from  those  printed  in  The  Spirit  of  the  Times, 


Knee  Deep  in  Clover  69 

upon  which  the  writer  relies  for  some  of  the  statements 
concerning  races  in  certain  years  won  by  get  of  certain 
stallions.  But  both  sets  of  tables  are  accurate  enough  for 
present  purposes. 

RANK  OF  AMERICAN  STALLIONS 

From  August,  1829  to  September,  1833,  and  again  from 
September,  1835  to  September,  1836  Sir  Charles'  get  won 
more  races  than  the  get  of  any  other  stallion  in  the  United 
States.     Sir  Archy  was  second  in  three  years,  Bertrand 
in  one  and   Eclipse   in   one.     From  September,   1833  to 
September,   1834   Mons.  Tonson  led  as  sire  of  winners 
during    that   year.    Bertrand    was    second.     From    Sep- 
tember,  1834  to  September,    1835   Bertrand  led;    Mons. 
Tonson   second.      From   September,  1836  to  September, 
1837  imp  Leviathan  led.    Sir  Charles  had  one  more  win- 
ner but  one  less  of  races  —  the  number  of  races  won  being 
the  standard  of  excellence  here  adopted.     In  1838  Levi- 
athan  led;     Eclipse   second.      Leviathan   first   in    1839; 
Medoc  (by  American  Eclipse)  second.     In   1840  Medoc 
led;   Leviathan  second.    So  it  was  in  1841.    In  1842  imp 
Priam  advanced  to  first  place;    Eclipse  second.     In  1843 
Leviathan  was  first;  Priam  second.    Their  places  reversed 
in  1844.     In  1845  Priam  led;   imp  Emancipation  second. 
In   1846  Priam  led;    Leviathan  and  Glencoe  had  each 
15    "winners."      In    1847   Glencoe  led,   Wagner   second, 
Leviathan   third.      In    1848    Leviathan    was    first,    imp 
Trustee   second,   Wagner   third.      In    1849   Glencoe   led, 
Leviathan  second.     Glencoe  first  again   in    1850;    Grey 
Eagle  second.     In  1851   Boston  led,  Grey  Eagle  second, 
Wagner  third.     Boston  first  again  in  1852;  Glencoe  second, 
imp  Sovereign  (by  Emilius)  third,  Wagner  fourth.    In  1854 
Glencoe  led,   Boston   second,  Wagner  third,  Grey  Eagle 
fourth.    In  1855  Glencoe  led,  Wagner  second,  Boston  third. 


yo        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

In  " Fores ter's"  table  of  "winners"  for  each  year  this 
word  is  used  as  a  synonym  of  "horses,"  as  shown  by  the 
excess  in  the  number  of  races  won  over  the  number  of 
"winners."  But  when,  for  brevity,  we  aggregate  these 
"winners"  for  a  long  period  of  years  we  have  many 
more  "winners"  than  the  number  actual  of  horses,  for  the 
reason  that  the  same  horses  won  in  many  different  years. 

Leviathan's  get  first  appeared  on  the  turf  in  the  year 
beginning  September,  1833,  when  he  had  6  winners  of  6 
races;  they  appeared  last  in  1852  when  he  had  2  winners 
of  2  races.  His  best  year  was  1838,  when  his  get  won  more 
races  than  the  get  of  any  other  horse  (that  stood  in  the 
United  States)  won  in  any  one  year  between  1829  and 
1855.  Thirty-four  of  his  get  won  70  races,  running  140 
heats,  and  263  miles.  As  to  the  number  of  winners, 
Leviathan's  best  year  was  1840,  when  he  had  37,  but  they 
won  only  54  races.  The  best  period  of  his  career  was 
from  1837  to  1843,  inclusive,  when  the  number  of  his  get 
that  won  each  year  ranged  from  20  to  37  —  an  average 
for  the  seven  years  of  about  27.  During  the  entire  period 
from  September,  1833  to  1852,  inclusive,  298  of  Levia- 
than's "winners"  won  450  races,  running  980  heats  and 
1,815  miles.1 

American  Eclipse  had  been  in  the  stud  seven  years 

1  In  the  supplement  to  "Skinner's  Stud  Book  "is  a  list  of  "Winning 
Horses  Since  1839."  The  dedication  in  this  supplement  is  dated 
January  i,  1848;  copyright  notice  same  year.  It  contains  tables 
showing  the  best  time  at  various  distances,  the  latest  year  of  any 
race  record  therein  given  being  1846.  The  original  and  supplement 
are  both  printed  in  one  volume  bearing  the  date  1857  on  the 
title  page.  The  date  at  which  the  list  of  winners  closed  is  therefore 
indefinite.  A  count  of  the  horses  shows  that  Leviathan  had  1 19  get 
that  won,  Medoc  74,  Luzborough  44,  Eclipse  43,  Bertrand  33, 
Priam  32,  Glencoe  23.  The  number  of  races  won  by  each  winner  is 
not  stated. 


Knee  Deep  in  Clover  71 

when  Leviathan  was  imported,  and  he  served  throughout 
Leviathan's  lifetime.  From  August,  1829  to  1853,  inclusive, 
221  "winners"  by  him  won  358  races,  running  884  heats 
and  i,7Oof  miles.  His  best  year  during  the  period  men- 
tioned was  1838,  when  25  of  his  get  won  53  races,  running 
125  heats  and  225  miles. 

Glencoe's  get  came  on  the  turf  in  1841  and  continued 
for  several  years  after  the  year  when  "Forester's"  tables 
close —  1855.  His  best  year  during  the  period  indicated 
was  1854,  when  26  of  his  get  won  56  races,  running  114 
heats  and  222  miles.  During  this  1 5-year  period  184 
"winners"  by  him  won  329  races,  running  779  heats  and 
1,534  miles. 

During  the  15  years  that  Priam's  get  were  on  the  turf, 
1838-1853,  130  "winners"  by  him  won  226  races,  run- 
ning 492  heats  and  867!  miles.  His  best  year  was  1842, 
when  24  of  his  get  won  53  races. 

During  16  years  that  Trustee's  get  were  on  the  turf, 
1840-1855,  inclusive,  90  "winners"  by  him  won  165 
races,  running  374  heats  and  804!  miles.  His  best  year 
was  1848,  when  8  of  his  get  won  19  races;  his  next  best 
year  1843,  when  10  of  his  get  won  17  races. 

Next  in  order  of  merit  among  imported  horses  was 
Luzborough  who,  from  1837  to  1844,  inclusive,  had  82 
winners  of  146  races,  his  best  year  being  1840,  when 
27  of  his  get  won  52  races,  running  120  heats  and  213 
miles. 

Then  there  was  Sovereign  who,  in  seven  years,  1846 
and  1847,  and  from  1851  to  1855,  inclusive,  had  40  "win- 
ners" of  84  races.  And  Margrave  who,  from  1840  to  1855, 
inclusive,  had  54  "winners"  of  119  races.  And  Ainderby 
who,  from  1843  to  l%54>  had  25  winners  of  37  races.  And 
Autocrat  who,  from  1838  to  1843,  na<^  29  winners  of 
33  races. 


74        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

successful  in  three  contests  in  1818  and  1819  —  one 
3-mile  and  two  4-mile  affairs  —  he  was  placed  in  the  stud 
at  $12.50  the  season,  in  1820,  and  stood  again  in  1821, 
covering  87  mares  the  latter  season.  The  New  York  leg- 
islature, after  Eclipse  had  been  withdrawn  from  the  turf, 
modified  the  laws  relating  to  racing;  a  society  was  formed 
to  improve  the  breeding  of  horses  and  Eclipse  was  re- 
turned to  the  track  in  1821.  After  winning  four  4-mile 
heat  races  of  lesser  note  he  met  Henry  (by  Sir  Archy)  in 
a  match  race  for  $20,000,  after  which  he  was  returned  to 
the  stud  at  $75  and  $100.  After  the  death  of  Sir  Charles, 
for  whom  three  offers  of  $15,000  each  had  been  refused, 
Eclipse  was  purchased  at  $10,000  to  take  Sir  Charles' 
place,  and  stood  at  Boydton,  Virginia,  Baltimore  and  other 
places  in  the  South.  He  died  in  Kentucky  July  10,  1847. 

As  previously  indicated  Medoc  was  among  Eclipse's 
most  distinguished  get.  He  was  foaled  in  New  York  in 
1829  and  sold  to  Kentucky  in  1833.  Another  was  Mingo, 
foaled  in  Pennsylvania  in  1831  and  taken  to  Kentucky 
in  1839,  where  an  offer  of  $5,000  for  one  fourth  interest 
in  him  was  declined.  Two  others  were  Ariel,  dam  Young 
Empress  by  Financier;  and  Black  Maria,  dam  Lady 
Lightfoot  by  Sir  Archy.  Ariel  won  42  out  of  57  races,  17 
of  the  42  being  of  4-mile  heats.  Black  Maria  frequently 
ran  when  out  of  condition.  Of  25  races  run  she  won  13, 
1 1  of  which  were  of  3-mile  and  4-mile  heats,  and  in 
one  of  which  she  had  to  run  20  miles  to  wrin.  Time  8 : 06 
—  7 : 55  —  8:13  —  8 : 39  —  8 : 47.  Other  distinguished  get 
were  Goliah,  Lance,  Shark,  Monmouth  Eclipse,  Gano, 
Lady  Jackson,  Ten  Broeck,  and  several  that  stood  in 
Tennessee. 

Of  the  1 60  stallions  standing  in  the  United  States  in 
1839  Eclipse  was  the  sire  of  21  and  the  grandsire  on  the 
dam's  side  of  i. 


Knee  Deep  in  Clover  75 

A  KING  FROM  A  KING'S  STABLE 

"LEVIATHAN  was  foaled  1823;  got  by  Muley;  his  dam 
by  Windle;  —  g.  dam  by  Anvil;  —  Virago  by  Snap;  —  by 
Regulus;  —  sister  to  Black-and-all-BIack,  by  Crab;  — 
Miss  Slamerskin,  by  True  Blue;  —  Oxford  Arabian;  — 
out  of  the  D'Arcy's  Black  legged  Royal  mare. 

" Muley  by  Orville,  out  of  Eleanor,  by  Whiskey;  her 
dam  Young  Giantess,  by  Diomed  (later  imported) ;  — 
Giantess  by  Matchem;  —  Molly  Longlegs,  by  Babraham, 
etc. 

"Windle,  by  Beninbrough,  out  of  Maryann  (sister  to 
Warrior),  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle;  —  Young  Marske;  — 
Matchem,  etc. 

"Anvil,  by  Herod;  his  dam  by  Feather,  out  of  Crazy, 
by  Lath;  —  sister  to  Snip,  by  Childers;  —  Basto  Mare 
(sister  to  Sore  Heels) ;  —  Curwen  Bay  Barb,  etc. 

"Orville  by  Beningbrough,  out  of  Evelina,  by  Highflyer, 
etc. 

"Whiskey  by  Sal  tram,  out  of  Calash,  by  Herod;  — 
Theresa  by  Matchem;  —  Regulus,  etc." 

King  Fergus  got  three  Doncaster  St.  Leger  winners, 
Beningbrough  being  one.  Beningbrough  got  two  win- 
ners of  The  Oaks,  and  one  winner  of  The  St.  Leger  —  Or- 
ville. Orville  got  two  Derby  winners  —  Emilius  being 
one : —  and  one  St.  Leger  winner.  Emilius  got  two  Derby 
winners  —  Priam  and  Plenipotentiary.  Emilius  also  got 
one  winner  of  The  Oaks,  and  Mango,  winner  of  the  St. 
Leger  in  1837.  In  1801  Eleanor  won  The  Derby  and  the 
next  day  won  The  Oaks;  she  was  the  first  to  win  both 
stakes  the  same  year.  Muley  got  one  winner  of  The  Oaks 
and  one  St.  Leger  winner  —  Margrave.  Among  the 
nominations  for  The  Derby  of  1837  were  seven  sons  of 
Muley;  for  The  Oaks  were  four  fillies  by  Muley. 


76        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Leviathan's  family  connections  were  therefore  of  the 
best. 

Leviathan  was  16  hands  high,  a  deep  chestnut,  "with 
a  peculiar  shade  of  deep  red  interspersed";  his  only  mark 
a  narrow  blaze.  Most  of  his  get  followed  him  in  color. 
He  was  bred  by  Mr.  Painter  and  made  his  debut  on  the 
turf  in  1825.  "At  two  years  old,"  wrote  Col.  George 
Elliott,  "he  ran  two  races;  won  one,  and  lost  one,  subse- 
quently beating  the  winner;  at  three  years  old  he  won 
nine  in  succession,  and  was  not  beaten;  at  four  years  old 
he  ran  nine  races,  won  seven;  lost  one  to  Dr.  Faustus, 
whom  he  had  previously  beaten,  and  one  to  Paul  Pry 
(by  bolting)  whom  he  had  also  beaten,  and  beat  after- 
wards. He  was  handicapped  in  this  year  and  ordered  to 
carry  7  Ibs.  extra  weight  over  horses  of  his  age,  conclusive 
proof  of  his  superiority." 

Only  one  of  these  races  was  of  4-mile  heats. 

On  Sept.  i,  1827,  Leviathan  "walked  over"  in  a  3-mile 
heat  race,  after  which  his  then  owner,  Mr.  Giffard,  sold 
him  to  the  King  of  England  for  2,000  guineas.  On  his 
arrival  at  Newmarket  the  King's  trainer  discovered  that 
his  legs  were  injured.  The  Duke  of  Grafton,  who  con- 
ducted one  of  the  finest  studs  in  the  kingdom,  was  anxious 
to  buy  Leviathan  but  he  was  sent  to  Windsor  and  remained 
idle  all  during  1828.  In  1829  one  experiment  showed  his 
career  on  the  turf  was  over  and  he  was  sold  to  Lord 
Chesterfield,  who  stood  him  the  season  of  1830.  In  that 
year  he  was  purchased  by  the  Messrs.  Weatherby  for 
James  Jackson  and  was  placed  under  the  care  of  Maj. 
Geo.  A.  Wyllie  (son-in-law  of  Col.  George  Elliott)  at 
Lord  Chesterfield's.  After  a  tedious  passage  of  51 
days  he  was  landed  at  New  York  on  Aug  30,  1830, 
and  was  taken  by  Wyllie  to  his  home  in  Virginia  to 
recuperate.  He  reached  the  farm  of  Col.  Elliott  on 


Knee  Deep  in  Clover  77 

Nov.  15,  1830,  and  remained  there  until  his  death  in 
1846. 

The  literature  of  Leviathan's  day  always  spoke  of  him 
as  James  Jackson's  property;  Jackson  returned  his  name 
in  a  list  of  his  stud  in  April,  1837;  and  Bruce,  who  knew 
Elliott,  says  Leviathan  died  the  property  of  the  estate  of 
James  Jackson.  Circumstances  indicate  that  Leviathan 
was  purchased  and  kept  under  some  sort  of  partnership 
arrangement  between  Elliott  and  Jackson.  Whether 
Elliott  later  became  sole  owner,  or  not,  he  managed  to 
hold  to  Leviathan,  the  results  being  the  same.  Jackson 
sent  mares  to  Sumner  County  every  year  to  be  bred  to 
Leviathan,  and  later  bred  Leviathan  mares  to  Glencoe. 

Owing  to  the  prejudice  existing  in  Tennessee  against 
all  importations  Leviathan  had  a  chance  to  show  his 
popularity  in  six  other  states.  The  two  Carolinas,  Georgia, 
Louisiana,  Mississippi  and  Kentucky  had  to  join  in  with 
his  Tennessee  "friends"  to  give  him  a  full  quota  of  mares 
his  first  season.  He  served  102  at  $75  each  and  got  more 
than  90  foals.  But  his  first  colts  were  stringy  and  sub- 
jected him  to  much  ridicule  from  the  Archy-Pacolet 
school.  In  1835  ne  stnTI  stood  at  $75,  and  netted  his 
owners  $10,000.  In  1837  he  stood  at  $100;  in  1839  and 
the  rest  of  his  life  at  $150.  After  the  first  few  years  he 
was  limited  to  a  smaller  number  of  mares. 

"Of  all  recent  importations,"  wrote  Wallace  in  1867, 
"this  was  the  most  valuable  except  it  be  Glencoe."  " For- 
ester" had  previously  expressed  the  same  opinion.  Al- 
though not  noted  as  a  4-miIer  himself  Leviathan  got 
many  4-miIers  out  of  native  4-mile  mares.  On  one  occa- 
sion Col.  Elliott  declined  an  offer  of  $7,500  for  two 
sucklings  and  a  yearling  by  Leviathan  and  Thomas 
Barry  declined  an  offer  of  $2,500  for  a  yearling,  full  sister 
to  Angora.  Comparisons  previously  made,  showing  Levi- 


78        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

athan's  standing  in  the  United  States,  as  a  whole,  do  not 
fully  signify  the  point  of  popularity  he  finally  attained  in 
Tennessee;  a  rough  estimate  that  he  had  more  winning 
stock  on  the  turf  in  Tennessee  and  farther  south,  than  any 
other  half-dozen  or  more  horses  would  not  be  far  wrong. 
Throughout  the  entire  country  he  was  regarded  as  "the 
modern  Sir  Archy."  If  you  don't  know  the  story  of 
Leviathan  you  don't  know  the  history  of  Tennessee. 

SON  OF  A  DERBY  WINNER 

LUZBOROUGH,  imp  dk.  b.,  was  foaled  in  1820;  got  by 
Williamson's  Ditto,  winner  of  The  Derby  in  1 803 ;  dam  by 
Dick  Andrews;  g.  dam  Eleanor  by  Whiskey;  —  Young 
Giantess  by  Diomed  (afterward  imported) ;  —  Giantess 
by  Matchem;  —  Molly  Longlegs  by  Babraham;  —  by 
Cole's  Foxhunter;  —  by  Partner;  —  sister  to  Roxana;  — 
sister  to  Chanter  by  the  Alkaster  Turk;  —  by  Leedes' 
Arabian;  —  by  Spanker. 

Williamson's  Ditto  was  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle. 

Dick  Andrews  was  by  Joe  Andrews,  he  by  O' Kelly's 
Eclipse.  Dick  Andrews'  dam  was  by  Highflyer.  Eleanor 
won  28  of  43  races;  Dick  Andrews  won  20  of  27. 

Luzborough  won  25  of  36  races  run  and  received  for- 
feits from  585  horses,  among  them  many  of  the  famous 
racers  of  England.  He  lost  only  one  race  of  heats,  when 
he  ran  second  to  Presentiment  whom  he  had  beat  before 
and  beat  afterwards.  He  generally  ran  handicapped.  At 
8  years  of  age  he  was  withdrawn  from  the  turf  and  stood 
three  seasons  in  England  where  his  colts  ran  with  success. 
In  1832  he  was  imported  into  Virginia  by  Merritt  & 
Merritt  and  made  two  seasons  there.  He  was  brought  to 
Nashville  in  January,  1835  by  a  company  in  which  L.  P. 
Cheatham  was  probably  interested,  as  he  advertised  that 
Luzborough  would  stand  the  season  of  1835  at  Thomas  A. 


Knee  Deep  in  Clover  79 

Pankey's,  Franklin;  $75;  $125.  In  1837  Luzborough 
stood  at  Rev.  H.  M.  Cryer's  farm  near  Franklin,  on 
the  Nashville  road;  $100;  $150.  He  died  in  Georgia 
in  1840.  Among  Luzborough's  distinguished  get  was 
Portsmouth.  Others  are  named  elsewhere. 

In  announcing  the  coming  of  Luzborough  to  Nashville 
it  was  stated  that  he  would  be  exhibited  to  public  inspec- 
tion before  the  legislature  adjourned. 

THE  IMMORTAL  GLENCOE 

GLENCOE  was  foaled  1831;  got  by  Sultan,  dam  Tram- 
poline by  Tramp;  —  g.  dam  Web  by  Waxy;  —  Penelope 
by  Trumpator;  —  Prunella  by  Highflyer;  —  Promise  by 
Snap;  —  Julia  by  Blank;  —  Spectator's  dam  by  Partner; 
—  Bonny  Lass  by  Bay  Bolton;  —  by  Darley's  Arabian; 
—  by  Byerly  Turk;  —  by  Taffolet  Barb;  —  by  Place's 
White  Turk;  —  Natural  Barb  Mare.  Bred  by  Lord 
Jersey. 

Tramp  got  two  Derby  winners  and  one  winner  of 
The  St.  Leger.  Selim,  Sultan's  sire,  got  one  Derby 
winner  and  two  winners  of  The  Oaks.  Sultan  got  two 
winners  of  The  Oaks  and  one  Derby  winner  —  Bay 
Middleton.  See  ST.  GILES. 

Glencoe  was  much  inbred  to  Herod,  Eclipse  and  Match- 
em.  He  was  a  golden  chestnut  with  both  hind  legs  white 
half  way  to  the  hocks  and  a  large  star  in  his  forehead. 
He  belonged  to  a  family  of  great  racers;  in  1835,  19  of  Sul- 
tan's get  won  46  races,  the  stakes  amounting  to  $60,890. 

"Glencoe  made  his  first  appearance  in  the  Newmarket  Craven 
meeting,  1834,  when  he  won  the  Tuesday's  Riddlesworth  stakes  of 
200  sovs.  each,  half  forfeit,  for  the  produce  of  mares  covered  in 
1830.  —  Twelve  subs.,  beating  Zulima  and  two  others. 

"On  the  Thursday  in  the  same  meeting,  he  was  beaten  by  Pleni- 
potentiary in  a  sweepstakes  of  100  sovs.  each,  h.  ft.  —  Nine  subs. 


8o        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

"In  the  first  spring  meeting  he  carried  off  the  Desert  stakes  of 
100  sovs.  each,  h.  ft.  Ten  subs,  beating  Ganges;  and  the  2000  gs. 
stakes,  beating  Flatterer,  second,  Bentley,  third,  and  four  others 
not  placed. 

"He  ran  third  for  the  Epsom  Derby  stakes,  Plenipotentiary  being 
first,  and  Shilelagh  second. 

"His  next  appearance  was  at  Goodwood,  where  he  won  the  Gold 
Cup,  beating  Colwick,  Famine,  and  seven  others  not  placed,  Rock- 
ingham,  St.  Giles,  and  The  Saddler  among  the  number.  He  like- 
wise won  at  the  same  meeting,  the  Racing  Sweepstakes  of  50  sovs. 
each,  beating  Louisa,  Defensive,  and  Rebel. 

"His  last  performance  in  1834,  was  at  the  second  October  meet- 
ing, winning  the  Garden  stakes  at  100  sovs.  each.  —  Five  subs, 
beating  Glaucus  and  Colwick. 

"In  1835  he  only  started  once,  when  he  won  the  Gold  Cup  at 
Ascot,  beating  Bran,  Nonsense,  Shilelagh,  Pussy  and  four  others. 

"At  the  Newmarket  second  October  meeting,  Lord  Jersey  chal- 
lenged for  the  Whip,  and  named  Glencoe,  but  the  Challenge  was 
not  accepted."  l 

Glencoe's  fame  spread  to  America  and  James  Jackson 
"sent  an  order  to  England  to  purchase  the  best  horse  in 
the  market  and  named  Plenipotentiary,  Priam  and 
Glencoe.  .  .  .  Glencoe  was  purchased  at  a  round  sum" 
said  to  have  been  2,000  guineas  —  "and  made  the  season 
of  1836  in  England  as  the  property  of  James  Jackson." 
He  more  than  confirmed  the  good  judgment  that  induced 
his  selection.  Wallace  says  he  "proved  to  be  one  of  the 
best  horses  the  world  has  produced." 

Few  of  Glencoe's  sons  were  ever  in  the  stud.  Vandal, 
one  of  them,  stood  many  years  at  Belle  Meade  and  got 
many  winners.  But  it  was  through  his  daughters,  mostly, 
that  Glencoe's  qualities  were  fastened  upon  posterity. 
Through  his  daughter,  Pocahontas,  foaled  in  England  in 
1837,  and  her  three  great  sons,  Stockwell,  Ratalpan  and 
King  Tom,  sires  of  a  long  list  of  winners,  Glencoe's  name 
was  placed  so  " imperishably  upon  the  scroll  of  honor" 
1  American  Turf  Register. 


Knee  Deep  in  Clover  81 

that  half  a  century  later  it  was  said  that  "there  is  scarcely 
a  good  stallion  in  England  today  that  does  not  possess  a 
strain  of  the  blood  of  this  great  horse";  and  in  America 
—  "it  is  safe  to  say  that  few  or  none  of  the  most  famous 
horses  now  on  the  turf  but  have  a  cross  of  Glencoe." 
Among  Glencoe's  get  in  this  country  was  Reel  who  won 
every  race  she  ran  except  the  last  in  which  she  broke  down; 
and  who  produced  Le  Compte  and  War  Dance,  both  bred 
in  Louisiana,  the  property  of  Thomas  J.  Wells.  Reel  also 
produced  Starke  and  Prioress.  Among  Glencoe's  many 
other  famous  daughters  were  Fanny  King  who  produced 
Brown  Dick;  Nannie  Lewis  who  produced  Aldebaran; 
Topaz  who  produced  Waterloo,  Austerlitz,  Wagram, 
Cotton  and  Lodi;  Magnolia  who  produced  Princeton, 
Skedaddle,  Daniel  Boone  and  Kentucky;  Rhoda  who 
produced  Fleetwing;  Novice  who  produced  Norfolk; 
Nebula  who  produced  Asteroid,  Sue  Lewis  and  Asterisk; 
the  dam  of  Goodwood  and  the  dam  of  Idlewild.  Others, 
still,  of  Glencoe's  distinguished  get  were  Highlander, 
Pryor,  Frankfort,  Peytona  and  Charmer,  the  latter  the 
best  mare  of  her  day.  "As  a  sire  of  brood  mares  no 
horse  native  or  imported  equals  him,"  says  Bruce. 
Among  the  get  of  Stockwell,  Ratalpan  and  King  Tom 
were  a  great  many  winners  of  the  Derby,  the  Oaks  and 
the  Doncaster  St.  Leger. 

Glencoe  stood  in  Alabama  at  $100  until  1844,  but 
served  comparatively  few  mares  besides  those  of  his 
owner,  for  reasons  previously  given.  Most  of  his  colts 
bred  by  Jackson  were  sold  to  Thomas  J.  Wells  and  other 
Southern  turfmen.  Wells  paid  Jackson  $6,000  for  one 
half  interest  in  six  "young  things,"  the  list  comprising 
three  sucklings  by  Glencoe,  two  2-year  olds  or  less  by 
Leviathan  and  one  2-year  old  by  Mango.  This  was  one 
of  many  similar  sales  noted  at  the  time. 


82        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

A  certain  event  that  took  place  in  Nashville,  in  1843, 
brought  Glencoe  into  greater  favor  in  Tennessee  and  in 
1844-5-6-8,  and,  probably,  1847,  he  stood  at  Thomas 
FlintofFs  stable  in  Nashville  at  $50.  In  1848  Thomas  (or 
James)  Kirkman  sold  Glencoe  to  W.  F.  Harper,  of  Ken- 
tucky; he  died  in  that  state  in  1857,  a  few  months  after 
his  purchase  by  A.  Keene  Richards.  He  was  a  very  nerv- 
ous, fretful  horse  and  was  blind  when  Kirkman  sold 
him.  The  statistics  of  winners  previously  quoted  show 
that  Glencoe  was  much  more  liberally  patronized  in 
Kentucky  than  he  had  been  in  Tennessee. 

Of  the  88  principal  stallions  standing  in  the  United 
States  in  1883,  as  set  forth  in  Bruce  s  Turf  Guide  of  that 
year,  28  were  imported.  Of  the  60  natives,  47  had  from 
i  to  6  or  more  tracings  to  Sir  Archy.  Eighteen  traced 
to  American  Eclipse,  and  3  to  Leviathan.  Of  the  28 
imported  stallions,  13  traced  to  Glencoe.  Of  the  60 
natives,  35  traced  to  Glencoe.  Among  all  the  thorough- 
breds that  have  been  on  the  American  turf  since  1 820  the 
author  ventures  the  assertion  that  more  have  traced, 
and  with  more  tracings,  to  Sir  Archy,  than  to  any  other 
horse  that  has  been  in  America  since  Diomed. 

DEVASTATION  OF  WAR 

It  may  take  many  years  to  determine  the  proper  rating 
of  a  horse.  Glencoe,  in  his  day,  was  noted  for  the  excellent 
qualities  of  his  get  and  their  ability  to  run  long  distances, 
rather  than  for  an  exceeding  number  of  winners.  And 
from  the  statement  just  made  it  would  seem,  on  the  sur- 
face, that  his  blood  has  outlasted  Leviathan's.  The  re- 
markable number  of  winning  horses  got  by  Leviathan  is 
sufficient  to  put  anyone  upon  inquiry  for  some  other 
reason  for  the  difference  noted. 

Leviathan's  get  were  mostly  in  Tennessee  and  farther 


Knee  Deep  in  Clover  83 

south,  whereas  Glencoe  spent  the  last  eight  years  of  his 
life  in  Kentucky,  which,  throughout  the  civil  war,  sat 
complacent  and  comparatively  unscathed  in  her  neutrality. 
Although  Glencoe  stood  in  Alabama  and  Tennessee  to- 
gether, twelve  years,  and  in  Kentucky  nine  years,  only  one 
of  these  35  native-bred  descendants  of  Glencoe  was  foaled 
in  the  South,  outside  of  Kentucky. 

With  the  live  stock  interests  of  the  South  wiped  out 
almost  entirely  by  the  demands  of  two  contending  armies, 
for  four  years,  it  is  not  surprising  that  the  names  of  many 
horses,  celebrated  throughout  the  South,  do  not  occupy  a 
more  prominent  place  in  the  pedigrees  of  post-bellum 
thoroughbreds.  The  infrequency,  or  entire  absence,  of 
the  names  of  many  of  them,  indicates  that  they  are  un- 
known to  this  generation  by  reason  of  the  devastation  of 
war.1 

OTHER  DISTINGUISHED  SIRES 

Other  distinguished  horses  of  this  decade  were: 

POST  BOY.    See  "POST  BOY  vs.  JOHN  BASCOMBE,"  post. 

PICTON,  b.  by  imp  Luzborough,  dam  Isabella  by  Sir  Archy.  Isa- 
bella's dam  was  Black  Ghost  by  imp  Oscar;  —  Pill  Box,  by  imp 
Pantaloon  by  King  Herod.  Pantaloon's  dam  was  Nutcracker, 
by  Matchem.  Up  to  Nov.,  1837,  Isabella's  produce  had  earned 
$75,000,  and  a  $10,000  offer  for  Picton  had  been  refused.  Bred 
by  Col.  Wm.  Wynn,  of  Virginia;  season  1839  at  L.  P.  Cheatham's, 
Nashville;  $100.  See  "THE  LEVIATHANS  vs.  THE  LUZBOROUGHS," 
this  volume,  post. 

1  The  destruction  wrought  by  "the"  war  on  the  habits  and  in- 
dustries of  the  Southern  people  is  strongly  reflected,  also,  by  contrast- 
ing the  facts  now  to  be  stated  with  the  figures  given  on  the  same 
subject  in  Chapter  I.  Of  the  entire  88  thoroughbred  stallions  in 
1 883,  two  were  in  Virginia,  three  in  Maryland,  one  in  Alabama,  one 
in  Texas  and  eleven  in  Tennessee,  those  in  Tennessee  being  in 
Sumner  and  Davidson  Counties.  Of  the  60  native  stallions  in  1883, 
eight  were  bred  in  the  South  outside  of  Kentucky.  Of  these  eight, 
two  were  bred  in  Virginia,  five  in  Tennessee  and  one  in  Texas. 


84        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

AINDERBY,  imp  ch.;  by  Velocipede,  dam  by  Catton.  Foaled  1832. 
M  E.  Imported  by  Lucius  J.  Polk,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Dec.,  1838; 
$75;  $100.  As  a  3-year  old  Ainderby,  carrying  118  Ibs.,  ran  in 
the  then  unprecedented  time  (for  3-year  olds)  of  1:43.  Polk 
paid  a  "high  figure"  for  him.  Velocipede  sired  more  winning 
horses  than  any  stallion  of  his  day.  One  of  his  get,  Queen  of 
Trumps,  won  The  Oaks  in  1835  and  the  St.  Leger  in  the  same  year* 
and  another,  Amato,  won  The  Derby  in  1838.  Catton  got  one 
Derby  winner. 

ANVIL,  br.  foaled  1829;  by  Mons.  Tonson,  dam  Isabella  by  Sir 
Archy.  Bred  by  Col.  Wm.  Wynn  of  Virginia.  Won  three  out  of 
four  sweepstakes.  Later  purchased  by  Balie  Peyton  for  $6,000 
from  James  B.  Kendall  of  Maryland;  $50;  $75. 

ARAB,  foaled  1820;  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  Bet  Bounce  by  imp  Sir 
Harry  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle.  Bred  by  J.  J.  Harrison  of  Virginia. 
Rev.  H.  M.  Cryer's,  Sumner  County;  $35;  $50.  Arab,  valued 
at  $8,000.  From  1833  to  1838,  inclusive,  Arab's,  get  won  52  races. 

AUTOCRAT,  imp  gr.  165  hands  high,  foaled  1822;  by  Grand  Duke, 
dam  Olivetta  by  Sir  Oliver;  —  Scotina  by  Delpini;  —  Scota  by 
Eclipse;  —  by  Herod.  Delpini  sired  two  winners  of  The  Oaks  and 
one  St.  Leger  winner.  Autocrat,  bred  by  Lord  Derby,  won  many 
races  in  England.  As  property  of  Tayloe  &  Tayloe,  of  Virginia , 
stood  1836  at  Thomas  Barry's,  $50;  $60;  in  1837  at  R.  C.  Dickin- 
son's, Montgomery  County;  sold  to  Col.  Samuel  Lyne,  of  Mont- 
gomery County,  in  1839.  Autocrat  had  37  traces  of  the  Darley 
Arabian,  25  of  the  Godolphin,  21  of  Flying  Childers,  13  of  Bartlett's 
Childers,  14  of  Regulus,  7  of  Herod  and  5  of  O'Kelly's  Eclipse. 
He  was  in  the  male  line  from  Herod  and  had  blood  of  Diomed. 
Elis,  who  won  the  Doncaster  St.  Leger  in  1836,  was  something  like 
a  half-brother  to  Autocrat. 

BEHEMOTH  (Hamlet),  br.  foaled  1824;  by  Bagdad,  dam  Rosey  Clack. 
Bred  by  Rev.  Hubbard  Saunders.  Owned  by  W.  E.  Broadnax* 
Virginia;  1831  at  A.  B.  Newsom's;  1836  at  A.  G.  Ward's  one 
mile  north  of  Clover  Bottom. 

BELSHAZZAR,  imp  ch.  foaled  1830;  by  Blacklock,  dam  Manuella 
(winner  of  The  Oaks  in  1812)  by  Dick  Andrews.  Bred  by  Richard 
Watt.  As  a  2-year  old  Belshazzar  won  races  at  York  and  Don- 
caster.  He  won  the  Gascoigne  stakes,  5  subs.  100  sovs.  each,  after 
which  Watt  refused  5,000  guineas  for  him.  After  a  victory  at 
Newmarket  in  1834  he  broke  down  and  was  placed  in  the  stud. 
Imported  in  1838  by  Thomas  Flintoff  or  Thomas  Alderson  &  Co., 


Knee  Deep  in  Clover  85 

and  stood  in  Nashville;  $75;  $100.  H  E.  The  dam  and  grandam 
of  Belshazzar  produced  winners  of  99  races,  19  of  which  were  of 
four  miles.  Manuella  produced  Memnon,  a  Doncaster  St.  Leger 
winner.  Manuella's  sister  also  won  the  St.  Leger.  Theodore, 
out  of  Blacklock's  dam,  won  the  St.  Leger. 

CAROLINIAN,  b.  foaled  1815;  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  by  imp  Druid, 
whose  dam  was  by  Herod.  Bred  by  Phil  Claiborne  of  Virginia  or 
North  Carolina;  1830  at  Edwin  Smith's,  Davidson  County. 
Advertised  by  Thomas  Claiborne  to  stand  1831,  in  charge  of  P. 
W.  Long  at  Nashville  race  track.  Carolinian  ran  eight  races  and 
won  seven. 

CRUSADER,  b.  foaled  1823;  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  Lottery  by  Bedford. 
Lottery's  dam  imp  Anvilina.  Bred  by  Colonel  Singleton,  of  South 
Carolina,  1833  and  other  years  at  Rev.  H.  M.  Cryer's.  Of  eighteen 
entries  in  a  2-mile  race  arranged  in  1830  at  Columbia,  South  Caro- 
lina, fourteen  were  by  Crusader.  Of  eighteen  entries,  produce  of 
1831,  in  a  race  to  be  run  in  1835,  eleven  were  by  Crusader.  He 
beat  the  renowned  Ariel,  by  American  Eclipse,  several  times. 
His  stride  is  raid  to  have  been  twenty-five  feet.  See  APPENDIX. 

FOP,  imp  gr.  foaled  1832;  got  by  Stumps  by  Whalebone,  dam  by 
Fitz  James.  H  E.  Imported  by  Lucius  J.  Polk;  $50;  $75.  See 
WHALE  and  LAP  DOG.  In  1843  Fop  was  purchased  by  W.  G. 
Harding  for  $2,000. 

GILES  SCROGGINS,  b.  foaled  1824  or  1828;  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  Lady 
Bedford  by  imp  Bedford,  g.  dam  by  imp  Dare  Devil.  Bred  by 
James  Jeffries  or  W.  B.  Moses,  Caswell  Co.,  North  Carolina;  1836 
at  W.  B.  Gowen's,  6  miles  from  Nashville,  on  Murfreesboro  road. 
Two  seasons  previous  at  Wm.  Pillow's,  Maury  County. 

MARGRAVE,  imp  ch.  foaled  1829;  by  Muley,  dam  by  Election  who 
won  The  Derby  in  1807;  g.  dam  by  Hambletonian  who  won  the 
Doncaster  St.  Leger  in  1795.  Election's  son  Gustavus  won  The 
Derby  in  1821.  Margrave  bred  by  Mr.  Dilly.  Won  the  Doncaster 
St.  Leger  in  1832,  73  subscribers;  the  Criterion  stakes,  36  sub- 
scribers; the  Grand  Duke  Michael  stakes,  15  subscribers;  the  Gas- 
coigne  stakes,  n  subscribers  and  other  races.  Imported  into 
Virginia  by  Merritt  &  Merritt,  1835;  1837  at  Thomas  Alderson's 
stable,  Nashville;  $75;  $100.  See  LEVIATHAN. 

O'KELLY,  gr.  foaled  1827;  by  American  Eclipse,  dam  Young  Empress 
(the  dam  of  Ariel)  by  Financier.  Bred  by  John  C.  Stevens,  Flat 
Bush,  Long  Island  and  14  Barclay  Street,  New  York.  In  a  4-mile 
heat  race  over  the  Union  Course,  Long  Island,  in  1833,  O'Kelly 


86        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

beat  Tobacconist  and  three  other  competitors;  time  8:02  —  8:01 
—  8:08.  In  1835  O'Kelly  stood  at  Alderson's  stable,  Nashville, 
and  later  stood  several  seasons  in  Williamson  County  —  at  A.  T. 
Nolen's,  Ennis  Murray's  and  A.  Rodgers'.  Service  $40;  $75. 
Valued  at  $8,000. 

PACIFIC  —  "The  Great  Pacific"  —  b.;  by  Sir  Archy,  darn  Eliza 
(full  sister  of  Gallatin  best  son  of  imp  Bedford),  out  of  imp 
Mambrina  by  Mambrino.  Pacific  full  brother  of  Bertrand.  Bred 
by  John  R.  Spann  of  South  Carolina.  Owned  by  Duke  W.  Sumner; 
kept  many  years  at  his  farm,  Spring  Grove,  7  miles  north  of  Nash- 
ville, adjoining  the  Phillips  farm.  Service  $30.  Pacific  got  many 
winners  of  races  and  several  stallions  of  note.  In  1837-38  his  get 
won  30  times.  Sumner  sold  to  Henry  A.  Tayloe  of  Macon,  Ala- 
bama, (formerly  of  Mt.  Airy,  Virginia)  two  2-year  old  Pacifies 
for  $3,500.  Another  of  his  colts  sold  to  Mobile  for  $1,000.  These 
were  not  exceptional  sales;  but  Bertrand's  get  brought  more 
money  than  Pacific's. 

PHILIP,  imp  br.  foaled  1828;  by  Philo  da  Puta,  dam  Treasure  by 
Camillus.  H  M.  Philo  da  Puta  won  the  Doncaster  St.  Leger  in 
1815  and  his  son  Birmingham  won  it  in  1830.  Imported  by 
Tennessee  company,  in  February,  1838,  and  stood  that  season  at 
Franklin;  1839  at  Rev.  Hardy  M.  Cryer's;  $75;  $125.  In  Eng- 
land Philip  ran  in  40  races,  won  23  and  was  several  times  second. 

RATLER  (or  Rattler)  (Thornton's),  foaled  1816;  by  Sir  Archy,  dam 
by  imp  Robin  Redbreast,  g.  dam  by  imp  Obscurity.  Robin 
Redbreast  was  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle;  his  dam,  Wren,  was  by  Wood- 
pecker. Ratler  was  bred  in  Maryland.  He  ran  25  races  and  won 
20,  1 8  of  which  were  of  2  miles  or  more.  Owned  by  Balie  Peyton; 
stood  at  John  H.  Robinsons',  Murfreesboro,  and  at  G.  W. 
Parker's,  Sumner  County;  sold  to  Maurice  E.  Boyles  (or 
Broyles),  La  Grange,  Tennessee.  Service  $40;  $60.  As  a  sire 
Ratler  had  a  fine  reputation.  Of  sales  reported  by  Balie  Peyton 
was  a  Ratler  colt  to  Mississippi  for  $2,000. 

SHAKESPEARE,  imp  foaled  1823;  by  Smolensko,  dam  Charming 
Molly  by  Rubens;  g.  dam  by  Beningbrough.  Shakespeare  ran 
second  to  Lap  Dog  in  a  field  of  19  contestants  when  Lap  Dog  won 
The  Derby  in  1826.  He  won  8  of  9  races  run.  Imported  into  Vir- 
ginia by  Merritt  &  Co.,  1835;  stood  at  Rev.  Robert  Hurt's,  Paris. 
See  LEVIATHAN.  Among  the  nominations  for  The  Derby  of  1837 
were  three  colts  by  Shakespeare;  for  The  Oaks  one  filly  by  him. 
Smolensko  won  The  Derby  in  1813  and  got  one  winner  of  The  Oaks 


Knee  Deep  in  Clover  87 

and  one  winner  of  the  Doncaster  St  Leger.    Smolensko  belonged 
to  the  Matchem  family,  being  a  son  of  Sorcerer,  son  of  Trumpator. 

SIR  RICHARD  TONSON,  gr.  foaled  1823;  by  Pacolet;  dam  Madam 
Tonson;  1829  at  Thomas  Foxhall's,  Sumner  County;  1831  at 
P.  J.  Burrus',  Murfreesboro. 

SIR  HENRY  TONSON,  foaled  1824;  full  brother  to  Sir  Richard  Ton- 
son;  1829  at  Rev.  H.  M.  Cryer's.  In  January,  1831,  purchased  by 
Jo  C.  Guild  and  Thomas  Barry,  brought  back  from  North  Caro- 
lina and  stood  at  "Barrymore."  Died  at  Portsmouth,  Virginia, 
September,  1836,  as  property  of  Balie  Peyton. 

SKYLARK,  imp,  foaled  1826;  by  Waxy  Pope  (of  the  Whalebone 
family),  dam  by  Musician,  etc.  H.  Bred  by  Mr.  Daxon.  Winner 
of  42  races,  24  of  them  King's  plates.  Imported  into  Virginia  by 
Dr.  Merritt,  1836;  stood  at  L.  P.  Cheatham's.  Service  $100; 
$125.  It  required  a  four  column  advertisement  for  Cheatham  to 
tell  of  Skylark's  pedigree,  performances  and  progeny. 

WHALE,  imp  b.  foaled  1830;  by  Whalebone,  dam  Rectory  by  Octa- 
vius  winner  of  The  Derby  in  1812.  HE.  Direct  male  line  from 
PotSos.  Imported  into  North  Carolina  by  Edward  Townes, 
1835.  Under  control  of  Rev.  Robert  Hurt  and  John  Hurt,  stood 
at  McLemoresville,  Carroll  County;  $60.  See  LAP  DOG. 

WILD  BILL  (formerly  Pilot),  foaled  1827;  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  by 
Gallatin.  Season  1837  at  George  W.  Garrett's,  on  Bradshaw's 
Creek,  Giles  County;  $50;  $75.  As  Mr.  Cheatham's  entry  Wild 
Bill  ran  in  Tennessee  in  1831.  At  the  Nashville  fall  meeting  of 
that  year  he  beat  five  competitors  the  first  three  heats  in  a  mile 
race  "best  3  in  5";  time  1:52 — 1:52 — 1:50.  He  got  many 
winners.  One  of  his  sons,  Gander  (dam  Grey  Goose  by  Pacolet), 
was  sold  by  Capt.  John  Connolly  to  R.  H.  Long,  of  Columbus, 
Mississippi,  for  $10,000. 

OTHER  GOOD  STALLIONS 
Other  good  stallions  of  this  decade  were  as  follows: 

BOLIVAR,  gr.  owned  by  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson  and  advertised  by 
him  to  stand  at  the  Hermitage;  $20.  In  his  advertisement 
Jackson  says:  "Bolivar  was  gotten  by  Oscar  out  of  a  mare  by 
Pacolet;  she  out  of  a  mare  by  my  favorite  horse  Truxton  by  Dio- 
med;  and  she  out  of  the  Opossum  filly  by  Wildair  or  Melzar. 
Opossum  filly  a  first  rate  four-mile  runner."  Advertisement  con- 


88        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

tains  statement  signed  "Jesse  Haynie"  to  the  effect  that  he  had 
trained  Bolivar;  qualities  given.  See  APPENDIX. 

The  O' Possum  filly,  about  1 807,  was  purchased  by  James  Jackson  from 
Samuel  Pryor,  of  Kentucky,  for  $400  and  placed  with  Gen.  Andrew 
Jackson  to  breed  on  shares.  She  produced  two  mares  by  Truxton, 
which  Gen.  Jackson  kept  as  brood  mares.  The  O' Possum  filly 
was  a  grey,  by  imp  Medley,  dam  by  imp  Highflyer  by  Highflyer. 

COCK  OF  THE  ROCK,  foaled  1814,  half  brother  to  American  Eclipse; 
his  dam  Romp  by  Messenger.  Bred  by  Nathaniel  Coles.  Ran 
successfully  in  the  East.  Season  1835  at  Thomas  Barry's.  Serv- 
ice $60.  In  1836,  1837  Cock  stood  at  W.  R.  Brown's,  Giles 
County.  In  1838,  Barry  and  Maj.  David  Burford,  of  Dixon  Springs, 
sold  him  to  John  McGhee,  of  Knoxville,  for  $2,500.  Barry  sold  two 
Cock  of  the  Rocks  to  Governor  Anderson,  of  Illinois,  for  $1,000. 

CONTENTION,  deep  sorrel  foaled  1815;  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  a  Dare 
Devil  mare,  owned  by  Mr.  Irby  of  Virginia;  1831  at  Henry  Cook's, 
Sr.,  Franklin;  $25. 

JEFFERSON,  br.  foaled  1825;  by  Virginian,  dam  by  Bellair  by  imp 
Medley.  Bred  by  J.  J.  Harrison  of  Virginia  (Wallace  says  Francis 
Thornton,  North  Carolina),  stood  in  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  in 
1831;  in  1835-1837  at  W.  L.  Alexander's  near  Hartsville;  1832  at 
Thomas  Barry's.  Alexander  sold  to  Arkansas  a  mare  by  Jeffer- 
son, dam  by  Sir  Henry  Tonson,  for  $1,500,  and  four  Jefferson  colts 
for  $4,000. 

JERRY,  dap.  gr.  foaled  1825;  by  Pacolet,  dam  Black  Sophia.  Bred 
and  owned  by  Col.  George  Elliott;  1831  at  Hugh  Long's,  Giles 
County,  where  he  stood  three  seasons.  Won  seven  of  ten  races  run. 

JOHN  DAWSON,  b.  foaled  1830;  by  Pacific.  In  advertising  Dawson 
for  season  1836  at  his  place  Cotton  says  Dawson's  dam  was  by 
Barry's  Grey  Medley,  g.  dam  by  Pacolet,  g.  g.  grandam  by  Gen. 
Jackson's  Truxton;  1825  at  Arthur  Cotton's,  Sumner  County; 
1839  at  Francis  Gordon's,  Spring  Hill,  Maury  County;  $50. 

LAP  DOG,  imp  b.  foaled  1823;  by  Whalebone,  dam  by  Canopus. 
H  E.  Bred  by  Lord  Egremont.  PotSos,  son  of  O'Kelly's 
Eclipse,  got  one  St.  Leger  winner,  one  winner  of  The  Oaks  and  two 
Derby  winners,  one  of  whom  was  Waxy  who  won  The  Derby  and 
got  four  Derby  winners  and  three  winners  of  The  Oaks.  The  four 
Derby  winners  were  Pope,  Whalebone,  Blucher  and  Whisker. 
Whalebone  got  one  winner  of  The  Oaks  and  two  or  three  Derby 
winners,  one  of  whom  was  Lap  Dog,  the  winner  in  1826.  Lap 
Dog  imported  by  James  Jackson,  Alabama,  in  1835;  stood  1836  at 


Knee  Deep  in  Clover  89 

Thomas  Alderson's  stable,  Nashville;  $50;  1837  at  George  Elliott's; 
1838  in  Lincoln  County. 

MAMBRINO,  dk.  ch.  foaled  1827;  by  American  Eclipse,  dam  John 
Randolph's  Grand  Dutchess  by  Gracchus.  Bred  by  Gen.  C. 
Irvin  of  Philadelphia.  A.  J.  Donelson  purchased  one  half  interest 
in  1835  and  kept  him  several  seasons  at  his  farm  near  the  Her- 
mitage. $40;  $50. 

MARSHAL  NEY,  foaled  1824;  by  Pacolet,  dam  Virginia  by  imp 
Dare  Devil.  H  M.  Rev.  Hardy  M.  Cryer's. 

MERMAN,  imp  br.  foaled  1826;  by  Whalebone  dam  by  Orville. 
Imported  by  Dr.  Merritt  of  Virginia;  1836,  1837  at  L.  P.  Cheat- 
ham's;  1838  at  Alex  Black's,  McMinnville.  $60;  $100.  See 
LAP  DOG  and  LEVIATHAN. 

STILL  OTHER  GOOD  ONES 
Still  other  successful  stallions  of  this  decade  were: 

ANDREW  JACKSON,  by  Virginian,  dam  by  Sir  Arthur;  Giles  County. 
BELLAIR,  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  Favorite  by  Bellair,  g.  dam  by  imp 

Bedford;  owned  by  Robert  H.  Peyton;  stood  at  Jackson. 
CHESTERFIELD,  by  Pacific,  dam  Roxana;  A.  T.  Nolen's,  near  Frank- 
lin;  $30. 

CITIZEN,  by  Stockholder,  dam  Patty  Puff  by  Pacolet;  Giles  County. 
CORONET,  imp  b.  by  Catton,  dam  by  Paynator.    Imported  in  1837 

by   Dr.   Merritt  of  Virginia.     Stood  at   Edward  Hoskins  near 

Somerville,  $60;  $100.     See  AINDERBY.     Coronet  won  about  30 

races. 
COUNT  BADGER,  ch.  foaled  1826;    by  American  Eclipse,  dam  by 

Hickory.    W.  T.  Sperrill's,  Lincoln  County. 
CRAMP,  by  Arab,  dam  by  Sir  Archy;   Giles  County. 
FLINT,  by  Stockholder,  dam  Sting  by  Conqueror;  Jesse  L.  Flippin's, 

near  Somerville. 
FROZENHEAD,  by  Crusher,  dam  by  Sir  Archy.    Crusher's  dam  by  imp 

Sir  Harry.     A.  B.  Newsom's. 
GASTON,  by  imp  Truffle,  dam  Lady  La  Grange  by  Sir  Archy.    Col. 

Joseph  H.  Townes,  Dresden. 
GLENROY,    by   Editor,    dam   by   Sir   Hal;     D.    D.    McFalls,    near 

Columbia. 

GOLD  BOY,  by  Industry,  dam  by  Oscar;  Jesse  Luton's  near  Pulaski. 
GREY  ARCHY,  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  by  Grey  Medley,  foaled  1811. 


90        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Bred  by  Benjamin  Phillips  of  Davidson  County.  Owned  in  1830 
by  Duke  W.  Sumner. 

GUN  POWDER,  by  American  Eclipse,  dam  Gazelle  by  Sir  Archy. 
At  William  Dickinson's,  Cornersville,  and  Thomas  Alderson's, 
Nashville. 

HAVOC,  ch.,  by  Sir  Charles,  dam  Powancy  by  Sir  Alfred  by  imp 
Sir  Harry.  Bred  by  W.  R.  Johnson  of  Virginia.  Sold  to  Rev. 
H.  M.  Cryer  for  $2,500.  Stood  at  his  place  in  Sumner,  at  Led- 
better  &  Clark's,  Murfreesboro,  and  at  Hal  Cook's,  Franklin. 
Name  changed  to  Sir  Charles  Pinckney;  as  such  stood  at  Rev. 
Martin  Clark's,  near  Murfreesboro,  in  1831. 

HEPHESTION,  by  imp  Buzzard,  foaled  1807;  died  in  Tennessee  in 
1833.  Owned  originally  by  Col.  John  Tayloe,  of  Virginia.  Buz- 
zard was  by  Woodpecker;  was  imported  into  Virginia  and  died  in 
Kentucky  in  181 1,  aged  24.  Quiz,  by  Buzzard,  won  the  Doncaster 
St.  Leger  in  1801. 

HIGHLANDER,  foaled  1828;  by  American  Eclipse,  dam  by  Duroc. 
s  Bred  in  Pennsylvania.  Stood  at  Memphis  Race  Course. 

HUGH  LAWSON  WHITE,  foaled  1833;  by  Leviathan  dam  by  Conqueror. 
Owned  by  Gen.  J.  A.  Mabry  of  Knoxville.  After  Mabry's  death 
in  1837  purchased  by  a  Sparta  company  for  $6,410.  Stood  at 
Samuel  V.  Carricks,  Sparta;  $60;  $100.  Celebrated  racer. 

LA  FAYETTE,  by  Conqueror,  dam  Julia  by  Sir  Arthur.  Stood  at 
HoIIon  Davis'  and  at  L.  B.  Beech's,  Williamson  County. 

LEVIATHAN,  JR.,  by  imp  Leviathan,  dam  by  Napoleon.  F.  S.  Heis- 
kell's,  Sinking  Creek,  near  Knoxville. 

LURCHER,  imp  foaled  1832;  by  Grey  Leg,  dam  Harpalyce  by  Go- 
hanna  sire  of  Election.  Bred  by  Lord  Egremont.  Selected  for 
importation  by  Allen  J.  Davie  of  North  Carolina.  Stood  at  Col. 
Samuel  Bunch's,  Grainger  County;  $50;  $75. 

MACEDONIAN,  by  Roanoke,  dam  Statira  by  Alexander  the  Great. 
Bred  by  John  Randolph  of  Roanoke;  1834  at  Nashville  race 
track. 

MELLI  MELLI,  by  Virginian,  dam  by  Sir  Archy;  1836  at  W.  H. 
Edwards',  Fayette  County. 

MERCURY,  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  by  Sir  Archy;  1832  at  H.  S.  Wilkin- 
son's, Murfreesboro. 

MORDECAI,  imp  foaled  1833;  by  Lottery,  dam  by  Welbeck.  Sold 
by  Thomas  Flintoff,  of  Franklin,  to  Henry  Baldwin,  Jr.,  of  same 
place  in  the  latter  '30*8.  Fine  horse.  Lottery  got  one  winner  of 
the  Doncaster  St.  Leger. 


Knee  Deep  in  Clover  91 

ORPHAN  BOY,  by  American  Eclipse,  dam  Maid  of  The  Oaks;  1834 
"in  Tennessee." 

PARTNERSHIP,  by  Volunteer  (by  Gallatin),  dam  Rosey  Clack; 
1832  at  farm  of  W.  R.  Saunders,  son  of  Rev.  Hubbard  Saunders, 
near  Saundersville. 

PRIAM,  by  imp  Leviathan,  dam  by  Sir  Archy.  Wm.  McMahon's, 
near  Memphis,  $35;  $50. 

ROBIN  HOOD,  ch.  foaled  1828;  by  Henry,  dam  by  Hickory  and  he 
by  imp  Whip.  Bred  by  Nelson  Lloyd  of  Long  Island;  1838 
at  Jesse  Luton's  near  Pulaski;  $40;  $60.  Up  to  the  race  in  which 
he  broke  down  he  won  nine,  lost  two  and  paid  forfeit  once. 

ROMULUS,  by  Pacolet,  dam  by  Sir  Archy,  out  of  a  fine  Bedford  mare 
from  North  Carolina;  S.  Cantrell's,  Charlotte  road,  Davidson 
County. 

ROBIN  ADAIR,  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  Lady  Burton,  by  Sir  Archy.  Bred 
by  John  Randolph,  of  Roanoke;  Marshall  and  Bedford  Counties. 

SAXE  WEIMER,  b.  foaled  1822;  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  Lottery  by  imp 
Bedford.  H  E.  See  Crusader.  Bred  by  Col.  William  Alston  of 
South  Carolina.  Stood  at  Rev.  H.  M.  Cryer's  several  years;  at 
Samuel  Mitchell's,  Shelby ville,  in  1835. 

SIR  ANDREW,  by  Bagdad,  out  of  Lady  Deaderick.  Thomas  Martin's, 
Davidson  County. 

SKYLARK  (called  a  hunter),  b.  foaled  1824,  by  imp  Exile;  bred  by 
Philip  Wallace,  Maryland;  owned  in  1832  by  Rev.  H.  M.  Cryer. 

ST.  GILES,  imp  foaled  1829;  by  Tramp,  dam  Ascot  Lass  by  Andros- 
san.  H  M.  Bred  by  Mr.  Risdale;  won  The  Derby  in  1832. 
His  half-brother  Scroggins  ran  second  in  a  field  of  14  contestants 
in  The  St.  Leger  in  1836;  another  I  brother  (half  or  full),  Blooms- 
bury,  won  The  Derby  in  1839,  defeating  20  contestants.  John  Bull, 
sire  of  Androssan,  won  The  Derby  in  1792;  John  Bull's  dam  was 
Fortitude  by  Herod.  St.  Giles  imported  in  1835  by  James  Jack- 
son; in  1836  stood  at  George  Elliott's;  $60.  See  GLENCOE. 

TALLEYRAND,  by  Kosciusco,  dam  Kitty  Fisher  by  Financier;  Jesse 
Luton's;  $30;  $40. 

TELEGRAPH,  b.  foaled  1828;  by  Stockholder,  dam  Caroline  by 
Volunteer.  Bred  by  Rev.  Hardy  M.  Cryer,  but  raised  in  "Western 
District;"  (John)  Barfield,  Caldwell  &  Co.,  Paris;  $50;  $75. 

TOBACCONIST,  a  Virginia  horse,  foaled  1829;  got  by  Gohanna;  dam 
Yankee  Maid  by  Ball's  Florizel;  Rev.  H.  M.  Cryer's.  Fine  racer. 

TRAVELLER,  by  Arab,  dam  by  Conqueror;  Maj.  Wm.  Ainsworth's, 
Madisonville,  Monroe  County. 


92        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

WACOUSTA,  ch.  foaled  1832;  by  imp  Leviathan,  dam  Lady  Light- 
foot  by  Oscar.  Bred  by  Hugh  Kirkman.  Stood  at  H.  and  J. 
Kirkman's,  near  Nashville;  and  at  Thomas  T.  Bullock's,  Middle- 
town,  Rutherford  County.  Wallace  says  this  horse  was  "the 
property  of  W.  Williams  of  Tennessse." 

WALTON  (or  Walter),  by  Eclipse,  dam  by  Constitution;  Liles  E. 
Abernathy's,  near  Pulaski. 

YOUNG  VIRGINIAN,  by  Virginian.  R.  H.  Wallace's,  on  Murfreesboro 
road. 

YOUNG  SIR  CHARLES,  by  Sir  Charles,  dam  by  Ball's  Florizel;  at 
Abner  Stacy's,  Spring  Hill,  Maury  County. 

ZAMOR,  by  Silver  Heels  (by  Ogle's  Oscar),  dam  Aurora  by  Vingt'un, 
was  bred  in  Maryland  and  purchased  in  Pennsylvania  by  a  Ten- 
nessee company  that  placed  him  in  charge  of  Gen.  Robert  Desha, 
at  Gallatin,  in  1832.  Vingt'un  was  by  imp  Diomed,  dam  by  imp 
Clockfast. 

Judge  Williams  said  that  "Swiss"  stood  at  Duke  W.  Sumners  in 
1835.  Imp  Swiss  was  foa  ed  1821;  by  Whisker.  He  was  "first 
favorite"  for  the  St.  Leger  in  1824.* 

MARES  IMPORTED 

By  L.  J.  and  R.  K.  Polk:  Vaga,  Venetia,  Tunica,  Stumps  Mare, 
Primrose,  Sweetbriar,  Pledge,  Panola,  Jennie  Mills,  The  Colo- 
nel's Daughter  (Adela),  Variella,  Varialetta.  The  Colonel  won 
the  Doncaster  St.  Leger  in  1828.  R.  K.  Polk  owned,  also,  imp 
Refugee  and  imp  Tomboy  Mare. 

By  H.  and  J.  Kirkman:  Florestine;  Myrtle,  by  Mameluke  who  won 
The  Derby  in  1827  and  ran  second  in  the  Doncaster  St.  Leger 
the  same  year;  Mango,  Nannie  Kilham,  and  Equity.  Florestine, 
Nannie  Kilham  and  Equity  were  sold  to  W.  G.  Harding. 

By  Thomas  Alderson:  Black  Bess,  by  Belzoni  brother  to  Bel- 
shazzar. 

By  J.  C.  Beasley:  Rebecca. 

By  Thomas  Flintoff:  Kill  Devil  by  Belzoni,  and  Fortuna,  by  Langar 
sire  of  Elis. 

Among  importations  into  other  states,  known  to  have  come  to  Ten- 
nessee were:  Vamp  by  Langar;  Nun's  Daughter  by  Filo  da 
Puta;  Phantomnia,  Anna  Maria,  Likeness,  Blacklock  mare  and 
Chance  mare. 


For  list  of  stallions  extended  into  the  1840*3,  see  Addenda  F. 


Knee  Deep  in  Clover  93 

IMPORTED  HORSES  OF  LATER  PERIOD 

The  following  named  imported  stallions,  not  previously 
mentioned,  stood  in  Tennessee  after  1840;  the  names  only 
being  given  by  Killebrew;  other  facts  from  other  sources: 
Ambassador,  by  Emilius;  imported  by  Col.  Wade 
Hampton.  Scythian,  and  Sacklowie  (an  Arabian); 
imported  into  Kentucky.  Rowton,  winner  of  the  Don- 
caster  St.  Leger  in  1829;  imported  into  Virginia.  Ten- 
eriffe  and  Emu;  both  imported  by  Thomas  Flintoff. 
Espersykes,  by  imp  Belshazzar;  imported  by  Thomas 
Alderson.  Volney,  by  Velocipede;  Shamrock  by  St. 
Patrick;  and  Albion  by  Cain  or  Actaeon. 

STRAIGHT  DOWN  THE  LINE  l 

The  way  in  which  the  "live  lines"  came  down  and 
penetrated  the  Tennessee  stock  is  shown  by  these  instances 
of  descent  through  sire  and  son.  As  a  rule  the  dams  of 
the  horses  belonged  to  a  line  different  from  that  of  the 
sires. 

MATCHEM  LINE — (i)  Matchem,  Conductor,  Trump- 
ator,  Sorcerer  (who  got  three  winners  of  The  Oaks), 
Smolensko,  imp  Shakespeare. 

(2)  Sorcerer,  Comus,  Berner's  Comus  of  North  Ala- 
bama. 

ECLIPSE  LINE  —  O'Kelly's  Eclipse,  King  Fergus, 
Beningbrough,  Orville,  Muley,  sire  of  Leviathan  and 
Margrave. 

HEROD  LINE — (i)  Herod,  Florizel,  Diomed,  Duroc, 
American  Eclipse,  O' Kelly  and  others. 

(2)  Diomed,  Sir  Archy,  Timoleon,  Boston,  Lexington. 

1  For  additional  facts  about  performances  and  offspring  of  English 
horses  mentioned  under  this  sub-head,  and  elsewhere  in  this  chapter, 
see  Addenda  B. 


94        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

(3)  Herod,  Highflyer,  Sir   Peter   Teazle,   Williamson's 
Ditto,  Luzborough,  Picton. 

(4)  Herod,  Woodpecker,  Buzzard,  Selim,  Sultan,  Glen- 
coe,  Vandal,  Virgil,   Hindoo,   Hanover,  The  Commoner, 
and  Great  Britain  whose  likeness  is  presented  as  illus- 
trating the  continuation  of  the  line  to  the  present  time. 

Tremont,  the  sire  of  Great  Britain's  dam,  Touch  Not, 
was  by  Virgil.  The  Commoner,  besides  having  many 
crosses  of  Glencoe,  traced  to  Lexington,  Woodpecker  (by 
Bertrand)  imp  Medley,  Virginian,  Ball's  Florizel,  and 
many  other  horses  named  in  these  pages. 

Touch  Not,  besides  having  many  crosses  of  Glencoe, 
numbered  among  her  ancestors  Lexington,  Stockholder, 
Pacolet,  Nell  Saunders,  Wilkes'  Wonder,  and  many  other 
horses  previously  mentioned. 

Among  Great  Britain's  achievements  these  are  noted 
in  an  advertisement  printed  by  his  present  owner  Mr. 
Geo.  M.  Hendrie: 

"  Winner  of  Earl  Grey  Cup  i|  miles  in  2: 04  f ;  Toronto  Autumn 
Cup;  Derby  Cup,  if  miles  in  3: of,  Canadian  record;  Toronto  Au- 
tumn Cup;  Ontario  Jockey  Club  Cup,  2j  miles  in  3:54!,  Canadian 
Record;  Louisville  Cup;  a  mile  in  i :  37f ." 

All  in  all  he  has  won  16  races,  has  run  second  in  6, 
third  in  3  and  has  been  unplaced  twice.  Great  Britain's 
trainer  is  John  Walters,  of  Nashville. 

The  number  of  celebrated  stallions  that  stood  in  the 
various  sections  of  Tennessee  prior  to  1840  is  a  fair  index 
to  the  large  number  of  planters,  merchants,  lawyers, 
doctors,  preachers  and  what  not,  who  bred  race  horses 
"on  the  side."  In  this  respect  the  breeding  business  was 
more  profitable  than  it  was  after  the  Civil  War,  when  it 
centred  in  a  few  large  establishments. 

Before  1840  the  average  price  for  a  suckling  or  yearling 
seems  to  have  been  about  $1,000;  for  a  promising  indi- 


K nee  Deep  in  Clover  95 

vidual  between  one  and  three  years  old  about  $2,000; 
the  get  of  Leviathan,  Glencoe  and  Bertrand  averaging 
higher  than  other  stock  of  the  same  period. 

Of  the  88  celebrated  stallions  in  1883  only  one —  King 
Ban  —  stood  as  high  as  $150.  Only  15  others  stood  as 
high  as  $100.  Most  all  the  others  at  $50.  Some  as  low 
as  $25.  Forty-two  Belle  Meade  yearlings  sold  in  1883 
for  an  average  of  $652.85  —  Great  Tom's  get  averaging 
$400,  Enquirer's,  $867.25.  Only  13  were  sold  to  Ten- 
nessee and  states  south  of  it. 


CHAPTER  VI 
SUMMER  COUNTY,  BREEDING  CENTRE 

SUMNER  COUNTY,  established  1786,  antedating  the  State 
of  Tennessee  by  ten  years,  lies  between  the  Kentucky 
line  and  the  Cumberland  River.  It  is  at  the  head  of  the 
great  Middle  basin  which  extends  through  the  state  to 
the  Alabama  line.  A  dozen  or  more  counties  comprise 
the  central  area  of  this  basin,  among  them  being,  besides 
Sumner,  Davidson,  Montgomery,  Williamson,  Ruther- 
ford, Maury,  Giles,  Bedford,  Marshall  and  Lincoln.  The 
soil  of  this  basin  is  ingrained  with  limestone  and  —  as 
has  been  learned  in  recent  years  —  with  phosphate.  It 
is  abundantly  watered.  Its  adaptability  to  animal  life 
was  made  known  to  the  Indians  by  the  great  number  of 
buffalo  and  deer  always  found  here;  and  by  agreement  of 
various  tribes  this  basin  was  held  in  common  for  use  as 
a  hunting  ground.  It  was,  therefore,  in  the  logical  course 
of  events  that  the  farmers  of  this  rich  basin  should  avail 
themselves  of  the  opportunities  which  nature  had  placed 
at  their  door,  and  become  the  supply  depot  for  the  horse 
and  mule  market  of  other  states.1 

The  leading  county  in  this  industry  was  Sumner;  and 
in  Sumner  the  breeding  business  centred  on  east  Station 
Camp  Creek,  which  flows  from  the  highlands  in  the 
north  to  Cumberland  River,  passing  about  two  miles 
west  of  Gallatin.  This  creek  is  crossed  by  three  roads 

1  See  Addenda  G. 


Sumner  County,  Breeding  Centre  97 

that  run  west  or  northwest  from  Gallatin.  Where  the 
Nashville  road  —  the  one  nearest  the  river  —  crosses 
the  creek,  lived  Dr.  Redmond  Dillon  Barry.  Where  the 
Long  Hollow  road  —  next  on  the  north  —  crosses  the 
creek  lived  James  Cryer.  Farther  up  the  creek,  where  it 
is  crossed  by  the  Red  River  road,  lies  the  farm  long  owned 
by  Col.  George  Elliott.  About  four  miles  to  the  west  of 
the  Barry  home,  on  the  Nashville  road,  resided  Rev. 
Hubbard  Saunders.  Orville  Shelby  lived  "one  half  mile 
southwest  of  Gallatin"  —  probably  at  Spencer's  Choice. 
These  were  the  men  who  laid  the  foundation  for  Sumner 
County's  reputation  among  horsemen  of  the  entire  Union 
—  a  reputation  acquired  as  early  as  1829  and  maintained 
to  within  recent  years. 

A  few  words  about  these  men  before  showing  the  im- 
mediate results  of  their  labors  as  breeders. 

Dr.  Barry  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  a  schoolmate 
and  friend  of  Gen.  Packenham  at  Dublin  University. 
Through  the  influence  of  Charles  James  Fox  he  secured  a 
position  as  surgeon  in  the  British  navy,  but  his  sympathies 
being  with  the  colonies,  he  resigned,  settled  in  North 
Carolina,  practiced  medicine  and  made  a  fortune.  He  then 
studied  law  in  the  office  of  John  Breckenridge  (Attorney- 
General  in  Jefferson's  Cabinet)  in  Louisville,  removed  to 
Gallatin,  married  Jane  Alexander  of  the  Mecklenburg 
(North  Carolina)  Alexanders,  and  became  a  successful 
lawyer.  He  was  a  warm  friend  of  General  Jackson. 

The  history  of  the  grazing  sections  of  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee  show  such  a  close  connection  between  blue 
blood  and  blue  grass,  it  is  worthy  of  mention  that  Dr. 
Barry,  who  brought  Grey  Medley  into  Middle  Tennessee, 
also  introduced  blue  grass;  he  blazed  the  way  for  the 
greatest  agricultural  specialty  the  Middle  basin  has  ever 
had  —  the  breeding  of  thoroughbred  horses.  By  this 


98        Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

specialty  has  Tennessee  been  best  known  ever  since  she 
stopped  producing  presidents. 

James  Cryer  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier  and  came  to 
Sumner  County  from  North  Carolina.  He  was  a  wealthy 
and  influential  citizen  and  represented  Sumner  County  in 
the  legislature  of  1815.  On  the  farm  he  owned  may  still 
be  seen  the  marks  of  a  track  which  is  said  to  have  been 
the  first  in  Middle  Tennessee  where  public  race  meetings 
were  held,  antedating  Clover  Bottom  by  many  years. 
A  few  hundred  yards  away  is  the  site  of  the  old  log  court 
house,  where  Andrew  Jackson  had  his  famous  fight  with 
the  Kuykendalls.  It  is  tradition,  firmly  believed  in  this 
locality,  that  when  Jackson  was  here  attending  Court  as 
Attorney-General  he  rode  in  races  on  this  track.  The  only 
way  to  undermine  this  tradition  would  be  to  prove  that 
races  were  not  run  on  this  track  when  Jackson  was  here 
as  Attorney-General. 

Cryer  died  in  1816.  Madam  Tonson  was  his  chief  con- 
tribution to  Sumner's  foundation  stock. 

Col.  George  Elliott,  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1781, 
was  a  colonel  under  Gen.  John  Coffee  in  the  Creek  war, 
and  at  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  By  his  efficient  mili- 
tary service  he  won  the  friendship  of  Gen.  Jackson. 
Jackson  offered  him  command  of  the  troops  in  the  Florida 
war,  but  Elliott  thought  he  had  done  his  share  of  fighting 
and  declined. 

Col.  Elliott  commenced  his  career  as  a  breeder  and  turf- 
man, prior  to  1813,  and  continued  until  about  the  time 
of  his  death,  in  1861.  "Wall  Spring"  was  the  name  of  his 
farm  and  the  residence  built  by  him  in  1828  still  stands. 
In  a  flat  across  the  road  from  his  house  Elliott  had  a 
splendid  race  track  where  many  a  "nag,"  afterward 
famous,  joined  the  infant  class  in  daily  exercise.  His 
home  was  a  gathering  place  for  people  from  all  sections 


IMP  DIOMED 


SIR  ARCHY 


Suraner  County,  Breeding  Centre  99 

of  the  country  and  every  meal  was  prepared  for  "com- 
pany." Elliott  accumulated  a  fortune.  His  success  be- 
spoke for  him  a  genius  for  his  calling  —  tact,  sound  judg- 
ment and  fine  capacity  for  detail.  All  his  contemporaries 
conceded  to  him  first  place  among  Tennessee  breeders  and 
turfmen.  Top  Gallant,  Pacolet,  Napoleon  and  Leviathan, 
in  the  order  named,  were  Elliott's  chief  contributions  to 
Sumner's  foundation  stock  prior  to  1840,  in  the  male  line; 
in  the  female  line  only  Black  Sophia  need  be  mentioned. 

Rev.  Hubbard  Saunders  came  from  Virginia  to  Sum- 
ner  County  in  1798  and  settled  one  mile  west  of  the 
present  site  of  Saundersville.  McFerrin's  "Methodism  in 
Tennessee"  says  that  Mr.  Saunders  "lived  to  an  advanced 
age  laboring  all  the  time  as  a  local  preacher,"  and  "main- 
tained a  fine  reputation  as  a  citizen  and  minister."  On 
his  land  was  erected  a  church  —  the  progenitor  of  the 
present  Saunders  Chapel  —  and  an  encampment  where, 
for  many  years,  the  Methodists  held  camp-  meetings. 
"These  annual  convocations,"  says  McFerrin,  "were 
great  blessings  and  were  the  nurseries  of  Methodism  in 
Sumner  County."  Mr.  Saunders'  farm  was  also  the 
nursery  of  some  fine  race  horses.  His  main  contributions 
to  Sumner  County's  foundation  stock  were  Wilkes' 
Wonder,  Rosey  Clack  and  Tennessee  Oscar.  Mr.  Saun- 
ders died  in  1829,  possessed  of  numerous  slaves,  several 
race  horses,  many  thousands  of  acres  of  land  in  various 
sections  of  the  country  and  thirteen  children;  to  each  of 
those  living  at  his  death  he  willed  $30  to  buy  "mourning" 
to  wear  after  his  demise. 

Orville  Shelby,  a  son  of  David  Shelby  and  grandson  of 
Anthony  Bledsoe,  was  born  in  Sumner  County.  He 
married,  for  his  second  wife,  a  daughter  of  Gen.  James 
Winchester  and  moved  to  Kentucky  about  1830.  Gen- 
eral Jo  Shelby,  of  Shelby's  Brigade  C.S.A.,  was  Orville 


ioo      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Shelby's    son    by  his  first  wife.    As   previously   shown, 
Orville  Shelby  introduced  Stockholder  into  Tennessee. 

THREE  MARES  AND  THEIR  PRODUCE 

ROSEY  CLACK  was  bred  in  Virginia  by  W.  E.  Broadnax 
of  Brunswick  County,  or  by  John  Clack.  Her  sire  was 
imp  Saltram.  Her  dam  was  either  Camilla  by  Melzar 
or  Camilla  by  Symmes'  Wildair  —  both  Camillas  being 
owned  by  Broadnax.  Balie  Peyton  said  her  dam  was 
the  Camilla  by  Wildair,  and  in  his  Reminiscences,  No.  8, 
gives  her  pedigree  extended;  which  see. 

Rosey  Clack  was  brought  to  Tennessee  by  Rev.  Hub- 
bard  Saunders  about  1812  or  1813,  and  he  owned  her  and 
bred  from  her  until  her  death  in  1827.  Of  her  thirteen 
foals  were  Oscar  by  Wilkes'  Wonder,  1814;  Partnership 
by  Cotton's  Volunteer,  1821;  Patty  Puff  by  Pacolet, 
1823;  and  Washington  by  Pacolet,  1824. 

MADAM  TONSON,  by  Elliott's  Top  Gallant,  was  foaled 
1814,  dam  by  Dr.  Barry's  Grey  Medley;  grandam  by 
imp  Oscar;  g.  grandam  by  imp  Fearnought.  Wallace 
says:  "This  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  brood 
mares  this  country  has  produced.  She  was  owned  by  the 
Rev.  Hardy  M.  Cryer  of  Tennessee.  Died  1831." 

Madam  Tonson's  dam,  owned  by  James  Cryer,  was 
from  the  stock  of  Boswell  Johnson,  a  Virginian,  who  settled 
as  a  close  neighbor  to  Cryer.  Among  Madam  Tonson's  ten 
foals  were  four  sons  by  Pacolet:  Monsieur  Tonson, 
1822;  Sir  Richard  Tonson,  1823;  Sir  Henry  Tonson, 
1824;  Champion,  I826.1 

BLACK  SOPHIA  was  by  Elliott's  Top  Gallant,  dam  by 
Lamplighter,  grandam  by  Beeder;  —  by  Buie  (alias 
Bowie,  alias  Bouye).  Lamplighter  was  by  imp  Medley. 

1  For  further  information  see  sketches  of  James  and  Rev.  Hardy 
M.  Cryer  and  Thomas  Foxhall. 


Simmer  County,  Breeding  Centre  \>  \$# 


Beeder  was  by  old  Union  and  out  of  a  full  blooded  Medley 
mare.  See  "Buov,  ALIAS  BUFORD'S  DEFEAT." 

Black  Sophia  ran  at  Bledsoe's  and  Mansker's  creeks; 
in  Wilson  and  Lincoln  Counties;  in  Mississippi;  and  at 
Green  Bottom  Inn,  near  Hunts  ville,  Alabama  —  six  or 
seven  races  in  all  —  and  won  every  race.  Elliott  owned 
her  many  years  and  later  she  was  owned  by  Col.  A.  B. 
Newsom.  Newsom  sold  to  Andrew  Jackson,  Jr.,  and 
other  Alabama  men,  one  half  interest  in  her  and  two  of 
her  colts  for  $6,000.  Bruce  says  "she  was  one  of  the 
best  brood  mares  in  America." 

Among  her  produce  when  Elliott  owned  her  were  Mor- 
giana  by  Pacolet,  1824;  Jerry  by  Pacolet,  1825;  Fortuna 
by  Pacolet,  1826;  Parasol  by  Napoleon,  1827;  and 
Birmingham  by  Stockholder,  1831.  When  Newsom  owned 
her  she  produced  Catherine  Barry,  later  called  Beeswing, 
by  Leviathan,  1835.  She  produced  eight  foals,  the  last, 
in  1841,  by  Stockholder. 

Morgiana  ran  eight  races  in  Tennessee,  Alabama  and 
Missisippi  and  won  six.  After  Fortuna  had  run  four 
races  and  won  three,  Elliott  sold  her  for  $2,000.  Jerry's 
seven  victories,  out  of  ten  races  run,  were  won  at  Nash- 
ville, Natchez,  New  Orleans  and  other  places. 

PERFORMANCES  OF  PRODUCE 

Now,  as  to  this  parent-stock's  near  descendants: 
All  of  the  produce  above  named  were  more  or  less  famed 
on  the  turf  and  as  stallions  or  brood  mares.  But  Oscar 
and  the  "four  Tennessee  Tonson  Brothers"  did  more  than 
any  other  horses,  before  1829,  to  establish  the  reputation 
of  Sumner  County's  native-bred  stock. 

MONSIEUR  TONSON  was  5  feet  3  inches  high,  a  beautiful 
blood  bay  with  black  legs,  mane  and  tail.  All  his  markings 
showed  the  bluest  blooded  aristocracy. 


fyp$yi<Makw$g  the  American  Thoroughbred 


In  his  first  race,  run  in  1824,  when  thin  and  out  of  con- 
dition, he  was  defeated  by  A.  B.  Shelby's  Pacolet  filly, 
Maria.  Three  weeks  later,  at  Cairo,  Sumner  County,  he 
beat  Maria  and  others  in  a  mile-heat  race.  In  the  spring 
of  1825  he  won  the  Jockey  Club  purse  at  Gallatin,  2-mile 
heats.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  won  the  great  colt  stakes 
at  Gallatin,  n  entries,  $200  each,  again  beating  Shelby's 
Maria,  Col.  Robert  Smith's,  Andrew  Jackson  and  others. 
Time  1  :  50-1  151.  A  few  days  later,  at  Florence,  Alabama, 
he  beat  Andrew  Jackson  again  —  and  others.  From 
Florence  he  was  taken  to  Natchez  to  run  there  and  at 
New  Orleans,  but  took  the  distemper  and  thrush  and  did 
not  start.  In  the  spring  of  1826  Henry  M.  Clay  bought  a 
half  interest  in  him  and  he  travelled  1,200  miles  to  Milton, 
North  Carolina,  in  June  and  commenced  his  career  in 
North  Carolina  on  Sept.  21,  by  winning  a  2-mile  heat  race. 
The  next  week,  at  Caswell  Court  House,  he  beat  Sally 
Walker,  by  Timoleon,  in  a  2-mile  heat  race.  On  Oct.  19 
following,  after  travelling  150  miles,  to  Tree  Hill  near  Rich- 
mond, Virginia,  he  beat  the  famous  Ariel,  Gohanna,  and 
Blenheim  in  a  4-mile  heat  race.  Two  weeks  later  he  beat 
Ariel,  Sally  Walker  and  LaFayette  3-mile  heats  at  Belfield. 
The  next  week  at  New  Hope,  he  vanquished  Shakespeare 
in  a  3-mile  heat  contest.  Two  weeks  later  at  Boydton, 
Virginia,  he  beat  Sally  Walker  in  a  4-mile  heat  race,  which 
for  many  years  afterward  was  regarded  in  Virginia  and 
elsewhere  as  the  best  race  ever  run  in  the  United  States. 
The  track  was  pipe  clay  and  hilly  and  at  that  time  very 
wet,  tough  and  heavy.  Time  7:56-7:55.  In  the  spring  of 
1827  he  was  lame  and  did  not  run.  In  the  following  Sep- 
tember at  Caswell  Court  House,  North  Carolina,  in  a 
3-mile  heat  race  with  Frantic  he  wound  up  his  turf  career 
on  three  legs  —  but  he  wound  it  up  a  victor  and  the 
recognized  superior  of  any  horse  of  his  day. 


Sumner  County,  Breeding  Centre         103 

Sally  McGee,  in  six  successive  races,  beat  all  her  competi- 
tors except  Sally  Walker  and  later  maintained  her  brilliant 
reputation  "in  the  west."  Sally  Walker  was  considered 
greatly  superior  to  all  other  race  horses  that  ran  in  "this 
country"  from  Timoleon's  day  to  1833  —  except  her  only 
successful  competitor,  Monsieur  Tonson. 

After  Mons.  Tonson  had  become  distinguished  on  the 
turf  he  was  purchased  by  Orville  Shelby  for  $1,000,  and 
after  he  had  beat  everything  from  Nashville  to  Natchez, 
Green  Berry  Williams  sold  half  interest  in  him  for  $1,000. 

SIR  HENRY  TONSON,  SIR  RICHARD  TONSON  and  CHAM- 
PION were  on  a  par  with  their  oldest  brother,  as  race 
horses.  The  Turj  Register  of  March  i,  1835,  printed  a 
picture  and  sketch  of  Sir  Henry  Tonson,  furnished  by 
Balie  Peyton.  In  both  picture  and  sketch  due  notice  is 
taken  of  a  peculiarity  which  Henry  inherited  from  his 
sire.  Henry,  like  Pacolet,  was  a  dapple  gray,  with  "a 
red  belt  passing  from  midway  his  back  around  the  near 
side  —  sure  pledge  of  his  Arabian  origin."  Henry  was 
15  hands  3  inches  high.  At  two  years  of  age  he 
was  sold  for  the  then  enormous  price  of  $2,200  to  O. 
Shelby,  who  put  him  in  training  in  charge  of  John  C. 
Beasley  and  found  him  to  be  a  colt  of  superior  qualities 
of  speed  and  bottom.  In  bleeding  him  his  wind  pipe 
was  permanently  injured,  cutting  short  his  once  promising 
career  on  the  track.  But  even  under  this  physical  dis- 
advantage he  scored  one  notable  victory  as  a  3-year  old 
at  Gallatin.  After  winning  the  first  heat  over  Mr.  Malone's 
Negro,  by  Pacolet,  and  Col.  Robert  Smith's  Oscar,  and 
while  in  front,  in  the  second  heat,  he  bounded  through  the 
field,  came  back  on  the  track  sixty  yards  behind  his 
competitors  and  won  the  race  by  several  lengths,  though 
his  bolt  lost  him  the  money.  He  started  only  one  other 
time. 


IO4      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Neither  Sir  Richard  Tonson  nor  Champion,  "although 
each  bantered  and  ran  against  the  world,"  was  ever  beat; 
and  Henry,  but  for  his  injury,  was  considered  their  equal. 
Champion  is  said  to  have  been  sold  for  $3,000  before  he 
ever  ran  a  race1  and  in  1831  he  was  held  at  $10,000. 
"Richard,"  said  Judge  Williams,  "was  the  most  beautiful 
horse  that  could  be  led  into  a  show  room." 

In  the  Tonson  brothers  were  united  the  crosses  of  Citi- 
zen, Medley  and  Bedford,  and  being  of  different  types, 
also,  from  the  Archy  stock,  their  blood  was  much  sought 
to  mingle  with  that  of  the  descendants  of  Diomed.  In 
1833  Col.  W.  R.  Johnson,  who  owned  many  mares  of  the 
Archy  and  Eclipse  stock,  paid  $10,000  for  Mons.  Tonson 
to  use  as  a  sire. 

Among  Mons.  Tonson's  distinguished  get  that  joined  the 
stallion  class  were  Anvil  who  was  brought  to  Sumner 
County,  Drone  (sold  for  $5,000)  who  stood  in  Virginia, 
Governor  Burton  who  stood  in  South  Carolina  and 
Rhoderick  Dhu  who  stood  in  North  Carolina.  All  four 
of  these  horses  were  grandsons  of  Sir  Archy,  the  first  two 
out  of  Isabella,  the  last  two  out  of  Lady  Burton.  Argyle, 
another  son,  started  18  times,  won  n,  five  of  them  4- 
mile  and  two  3-mile  heats.  Champion  was  destroyed  by 
disease;  Richard  died  young  but  left  some  fine  stock; 
Henry  was  a  great  success  in  the  stud. 

BETSEY  MALONE,  next  in  point  of  time,  was  the.  most 
distinguished  product  of  Sumner  County.  Of  her  Wallace 
says:  "Foaled  1829;  got  by  Stockholder  dam  by  Potomac 
g.  dam  by  imp  Diomed.  Nothing  more  is  known  with 
certainty  of  the  blood  of  this  wonderful  animal,  but  her 
performances  on  the  turf  at  all  distances  and  her  produce 
in  the  stud,  entitle  her  to  a  very  high  place  in  the  true  horse 

1  Peyton  says  he  was  sold  at  this  price  while  at  the  head  of  the 
turf. 


Sumner  County,  Breeding  Centre         105 

aristocracy.    Out  of  22  races  at  all  distances  she  lost  one, 
and  she  produced  Charmer."1 

Betsey  Malone  was  foaled  the  property  of  John  Wesley 
Malone,  of  Sumner  County,  and  was  named  by  him  for 
his  wife.  Tradition  in  the  Malone  family  is  that  this 
mare  never  lost  a  race.2  She  was  trained  by  John  Malone 
and  Green  Berry  Williams  and  ran  in  Nashville,  Natchez 
and  other  Southern  cities.  A  news  item  in  The  Spirit 
in  1838  stated  that  Richard  Beasley,  of  Nashville,  had  sold 
to  W.  J.  Minor,  of  Natchez,  Betsey  Malone  and  her  colt 
by  imp  Consol,  of  Alabama,  for  $2,200. 

CELEBRITIES  OF  THE  1830*5 

Among  the  most  successful  racers  in  the  United  States, 
1836-39,  inclusive,  were  the  following  named  descend- 
ants of  the  above  mentioned  parent  stock.  All  of  them 
were  foaled  in  Sumner  County  unless  otherwise  stated. 

ANGORA  (Gen.  Robert  Desha's),  foaled  1832;  by  Levi- 
athan, dam  Patty  Puff.  See  ANGORA  vs.  RODOLPH,  post. 

SARAH  BLADEN  (Col.  George  Elliott's),  foaled  1834; 
by  Leviathan,  dam  Morgiana.  She  won  $11,500  in  six 
races  and  forfeitures  in  1836-38.  See  "THE  LEVIATHANS 
vs.  THE  LUZBOROUGHS,"  post. 

In  Skinner's  table  showing  the  best  time  on  record  at 
2-mile  heats  prior  to  1847,  Sarah  Bladen  is  put  down  as 
making  that  distance  in  3:46  at  New  Orleans,  March  17, 
1842;  in  the  4-mile  heat  races  she  is  credited  with  7:45- 
7:40,  at  New  Orleans  on  March  17,  1841.  Referring  to 
an  entirely  different  race  from  the  above  the  Editor  of 

1  Bruce  says  Betsey  Malone's  second  dam  was  by  imp  Diomed 
and  her  third  dam  by  Pegasus.     Charmer  was  by  Glencoe. 

2  A  writer  in  The  TurJ  Register  said  she  never  lost  a  beat  except 
the  one  in  which  she  fell.    Judge  Jo  C.  Guild  said  she  never  lost  a 
race  except  the  one  in  which  she  fell. 


106      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

The  TurJ  Register  wrote  in  February,  1843:  "To  this  day 
the  Turfmen  of  the  Old  Dominion  and  of  the  North  will 
not  concede  that  any  performance  made  at  New  Orleans 
equals  that  of  Sarah  Bladen  who,  at  eight  years  old,  with 
her  full  weight  up,  ran  4-mile  heats  in  7:37-7:40." 

(3)  BIRMINGHAM  (Col.  George  Elliott's),  foaled    1831; 
by  Stockholder,  dam  Black  Sophia.     Sold  for  $700  to  A. 
B.  Newsom,  who  sold  him  for  $2,500  to  Dr.  Scott  of  Benton 
County,  Alabama,  who  sold  him  for  $4,500  to  Maj.  Kean 
of  Mobile.     After  several  victorious  campaigns  Birming- 
ham, in  the  presence  of  a  great  crowd  at  Mobile,  in  April, 
1837,  as  the  entry  of  P.  B.  Starke,  defeated  Col.  Vance 
Johnson's  Scarlet  in  a  match  race,  4-mile  heats,  for  $5,000. 
Scarlet  was  by  Waxy  (son  of  Sir  Archy)  dam  by  Tiger. 
Scarlet  distanced  first  heat.     Time  i :  54  —  i :  54  —  i :  55 
—  2:05.    Total  4  miles  7:48.    The  Spirit  said  Birmingham 
could  have  made  better  time,  but,  as  it  was,  proved  him- 
self "one  of  the  very  best  horses  on  the  American  turf." 
At  this  same  meeting  four  days  later  he  was  allowed  to 
take  down  a  $1,000  purse  without  opposition.    In  1838  he 
was  taken  to  Kentucky  for  use  as  a  stallion  and  in  1839 
Y.  N.  Oliver  &  Co.,  of  New  Orleans  and  Louisville,  sold 
half  interest  in  him  to  Throckmorton  and  Prestbury  of 
Louisville  for  $4,000.    As  a  stallion  he  earned  a  place  in 
the  list  of  celebrities. 

(4)  LINNET/  foaled  1832,  by  Leviathan,  dam  Object  by 
Marshal  Ney  by  Pacolet.    James  Jackson  sold  her  as  a 
3-year  old  to  W.  J.  Minor  of  Natchez,  Miss.,  for  $3,000 

1  The  fact  that  Linnet  was  later  owned  by  James  Jackson  prob- 
ably caused  some  writers  to  say  she  was  bred  by  Jackson.  General 
Desha  who  lived  in  Sumner  at  the  time,  said  she  was  bred  in  Sum- 
ner.  Bruce  credits  John  Duncan  of  Alabama  with  owning  Object. 
The  fact  that  Object  produced  nine  foals  by  Leviathan  indicates  a 
long  residence  in  Sumner.  At  any  rate  she  was  of  Sumner  County 
stock. 


Sumner  County,  Breeding  Centre         107 

and  Minor  sold  her  to  T.  J.  and  M.  Wells  of  Alexandria, 
Louisiana,  for  $6,000.  Wells  Brothers  refused  an  offer  of 
$12,000  for  her.  In  seven  races  run  in  1836-7-8  she  won 
more  than  $20,000  in  prizes.  In  a  match  race  for  $10,000 
a  side,  $5,500  bye,  mile  heats,  set  for  December  15,  1836, 
at  Alexandria,  Louisiana,  Linnet  received  forfeit  of  $5,000 
from  Francis  Henderson's  Coahoma,  by  Mercury,  dam  by 
Sir  Peter  Teazle.  In  1838,  in  a  4-mile  heat  race  at  New  Or- 
leans for  a  $2,000  purse  she  beat,  among  others,  A.  L. 
Bingaman's  Fanny  Wright  (by  Bertrand),  "Crack  of  the 
South,"  who,  in  1837,  had  won  six  4-mile  heat  races  aggre- 
gating $9,000  in  purses.  In  1838  at  Natchez,  Linnet  won 
a  $10,000  sweepstake  from  Angora.  Angora's  jockey  fell 
off  and  Linnet  got  the  money,  but  the  respective  merits 
of  these  two  half-sisters  from  Sumner  was  not  decided. 

In  addition  to  the  more  than  $20,000  winnings  referred 
to  above,  Linnet  received  $5,000  forfeit  on  an  inside  bet 
of  $10,000  with  Col.  Osmund  Claiborne's  Hinda  (Susan 
Yandell)  by  Sir  Richard  Tonson,  dam  by  Rockingham,  in 
a  4-mile  race  won  by  Fanny  Wright  at  Natchez  in  March, 

1837.  Both  Hinda  and  Linnet  were  out  of  sorts  and  the 
latter  was  distanced  the  first  heat.   Linnet  was  the  favorite. 

(5)  ZELINA,  foaled  1833,  by  Leviathan,  her  dam  (a  sister 
to  Betsey  Malone)  by  Stockholder.  Afterward  owned  in 
turn  by  Eli  Abbott,  J.  B.  Jones,  Johnson  &  Tayloe  and 
Henry  H.  Tayloe  of  Alabama.  In  1836-7-8  she  won 
three  4-mile  heat  races,  five  3-mile  heat  races,  two  2-mile 
heat  races  and  four  mile-heat  races,  her  winnings  amount- 
ing to  $13,900.  In  this  list  was  a  $5,000  sweepstake  won 
over  Gen.  J.  A.  Mabry's  fine  racer,  Hugh  Lawson  White, 
by  Leviathan,  dam  Julia  Franklin  by  Conqueror,  at 
Tuscaloosa,  Alabama.  At  New  Orleans,  in  December, 

1838,  she  beat  Linnet  in  a  2-mile  heat  race  for  a  $10,000 
purse ;    time  4:07  —  4 : 09. 


io8      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

(6)  THE  PONEY  (Col.  Jesse  Cage's),  foaled  1834;    by 
Leviathan,  dam  by  Stockholder;   later  sold  to  Thomas  J. 
Wells,  of  Alexandria,  Louisiana,  for  $3,000.    In  six  races 
— two  of  4-mile  heats,  three  of  3-mile  heats  and  one  a  mile 
heat,  run  within  the  two  years  ending  March  15,  1839, 
The  Poney  won  $12,100.     Ten  thousand  dollars  of  this 
sum  was  won  in  a  match  race  at  Mobile,  4-mile  heats, 
with    David   Stephenson's   Melzare,  by   Bertrand,   dam 
Madam  Bosley,  by  Sir  Richard  Tonson;  time  7 : 48  —  7 : 56. 
Four  days  later,  on  March  15,  1839,  at  the  same  place, 
The  Poney  defeated  four  competitors  in  a  4-mile  heat 
race  for  J.  C.  P.,  $1,000.    After  his  racing  career  was 
over  he  became  celebrated  in  the  stud. 

(7)  BEESWING,    by    Leviathan,    dam    Black    Sophia. 
Foaled   1835,  as  property  of  A.  B.  Newsom  of  Wilson 
County;    at  2  years  old  sold  to  Jo  C.  Guild  and  Balie 
Peyton  of  Sumner,   for  $2,000.     Peyton  later  sold  his 
interest  for  $1,500  to  T.  J.  and  M.  Wells  of  Louisiana 
and    Beewsing   joined   the    long   procession    of   Sumner 
County  horses  that  went  South.     In  eight  races  run  in 
1838  and  1839  she  won  $14,100  for  her  owners.     In  her 
list  of  victories  was  a  $5,000  match  race  in  1838  with 
Willina  Herndon   (by  Woodpecker  dam  by  Whipster), 
4-mile  heats,  at  New  Orleans;    time  8:15  —  8:37.     On 
March  6,    1839,  at  New  Orleans,  she  won  $5,250  in  a 
sweepstake,  four  running;   time  3:44  —  3:47.     Six  days 
later  at  Mobile  she  distanced  two  competitors  —  one  5 
and  the  other  6  years  old  —  in  a  2-mile  heat  race  for  a 
purse  of  $700. 

In  a  statement  of  the  best  time  on  record  at  2-mile 
heats  up  to  December  i,  1846,  Beeswing  is  one  of  the 
twelve  horses  mentioned.  Her  time  was  3 : 44  —  3 : 47, 
made  at  New  Orleans,  March  26,  1839. 

In  winding  up  her  successful  turf  career  in  New  Orleans 


Sumner  County,  Breeding  Centre         109 

in  1840,  Beeswing  ran  a  4-mile  heat  in  7:38.  This  was 
better  than  Peytona  did  in  her  race  with  Fashion;  it  was 
only  one  half  second  behind  the  best  time  made  in  the 
Eclipse-Henry  race.  It  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  Sarah 
Bladen's  time  of  7:37,  previously  stated,  was  better  than 
either  heat  of  the  Eclipse— Henry  contest. 

(8)  LAVINIA,  foaled  1835,  by  Leviathan,  dam  Parasol 
(by  Elliott's  Napoleon).  Bred  by  Col.  Robert  Smith  of 
Murfreesboro.  She  won  seven  mile-heat  races  in  Tennes- 
see, Alabama,  Mississippi  and  Louisiana,  in  1838.  Sold  to 
B.  M.  Grissett,  of  Alabama  (along  with  Lizzy  Diggs  by 
Leviathan,  dam  by  Tennessee  Oscar),  for  $6,ooo.1 

It  must  not  be  assumed  that  these  results  came  from 
haphazard  ways  of  breeding.  Mating  was  a  science,  and 
the  chief  pleasure  that  most  breeders  got  out  of  the  turf 
was  in  watching  the  practical  test  of  their  theories  —  the 
joy  of  achievement.  This  fact  must  be  kept  in  mind  by  all 
who  would  get  at  the  heart  of  the  thoroughbred  industry 
before  one  branch  of  it  came  under  the  blighting  influence 
of  the  bookmaker.  Conceding  this  much  to  the  impelling 
power  behind  the  breeders  it  may  be  easily  imagined  how 
the  news  of  the  victories  above  enumerated,  leaking  back 
through  the  wilderness  by  way  of  the  Natchez  Trace,  or  by 
Mississippi  steamer,  stirred  "the  grand  old  county  of 
Sumner"  from  the  head  of  Goose  to  the  mouth  of  Mansker. 

Other  successful  horses  bred  in  Sumner  County  at  this 
same  period,  and  wholly,  or  in  part,  from  the  above 
mentioned  foundation  stock  were: 

1  Between  Oct.  i,  1829  and  May  8,  1835,  Black  Maria  won  $14,900. 
Trifle,  a  nonpareil,  and  the  most  successful  racer  of  her  day,  won 
$14,380;  Post  Boy  won  $12,700.  In  nine  4-mile  heat  races  Boston 
won  only  $7,600  in  purses.  Atalanta  in  three  races  in  New  York 
and  New  Jersey  won  $1,500.  Fanny  Wright,  "crack  of  the  South,"  ;n 
six  races  won  $9,000.  Comparatively  speaking  the  Sumner  County 
stock  made  a  very  good  showing. 


1 10      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

(9)  DANIEL  O'CONNELL,  foaled   1832;   by   Sir  Henry 
Tonson,   dam    by   imp    Sir    Harry;    grandam    by    imp 
Diomed.    Bred  by  G.  W.  Parker  and  sold  to  Col.  Robert 
Smith  of  Murfreesboro  for  $1,200.    Later  he  went  south. 
After  closing  his  career  on  the  turf  he  became  celebrated 
as  a  stallion.    As  a  2-year  old  he  ran  a  mile  in  1 149  —  an 
unusual  feat  for  his  period. 

(10)  QUEEN  OF  TRUMPS  (Jesse  Cage's) ;  foaled  1835;  by 
Leviathan,  dam  Fanny  Maria  by  Pacolet;  sold  to  Thomas 
J.  Wells  of  Louisiana. 

(n)  FANNY  BELL  (Jesse  Haynie's);  foaled  1833;  by 
Murat,  dam  by  Tennessee  Oscar;  sold  to  Col.  Robert 
Smith,  of  Murfreesboro,  for  $2,000;  later  was  taken  South 
and  her  promising  career  begun  in  Sumner  County  was 
cut  short  by  incompetent  handling. 

(12)  JOHN    MALONE    (formerly   Dr.   Duncan)    (Jo  C. 
Guild's);    foaled   1836,  by  imp  Leviathan,  dam  Proser- 
pine by  Tennessee  Oscar. 

(13)  BOYD  McNAiRY  (George  Elliott's);    foaled  1836, 
full  brother  to  Sarah  Bladen.    After  a  successful  career 
on  the  turf  served  as  stallion  in  Kentucky. 

Still  other  chips  off  these  old  foundation  blocks,  con- 
temporaneous with  those  named  above,  were: 

(14)  HORTENSIA,  by  Pacific,  dam  Bet  Bosley  by  Wilkes' 
Wonder;  bred  by  Duke  W.  Sumner,  of  Davidson. 

(15)  NARRCISSA  PARRISH,  by  Stockholder,  dam  by  imp 
Eagle;  bred  by  William  McCrory,  of  Davidson. 

(16)  JIM   POLK,  by  Stockholder,  dam  by  imp  Eagle; 
bred  by  Henry  Smith,  of  Maury,  and  sold  by  him  for 
$2,500. 

All  of  these  horses  were  sold  to  Mississippi  and  Louisiana 
and  proved  true  to  their  family  name  and  reputation,  in 
the  rivalries  between  their  new  owners. 


Sumner  County,  Breeding  Centre         1 1 1 

EXPECTATIONS  AND  REALIZATIONS 

The  important  place  occupied  by  Sumner  County  in 
the  estimation  of  sportsmen  of  the  entire  country  is  well 
illustrated  by  a  letter  written  by  Balie  Peyton  from 
"Station  Camp"  on  July  i,  1837,  to  The  Spirit  of  the 
Times,  in  which  he  said: 

"The  sweepstakes  to  come  off  over  the  Gallatin  Course  at  the 
Fall  meeting  1840,  2-mile  heats,  for  $1,000  (each  sub.)  $250  forfeit, 
has  closed  with  23  subscribers.  The  nominations  comprise  ten  of 
the  get  of  imp  Leviathan,  three  of  imp  Luzborough,  three  of  imp 
Consol,  two  of  imp  Merman,  one  of  imp  Whale,  one  of  imp  Chateau 
Margaux,  one  of  imp  Priam,  and  two  Bertrands.  A  more  promising 
lot  of  colts,  if  we  are  to  judge  from  their  illustrious  ancestry,  has 
never  been  named  for  any  stake,  at  least  upon  these  waters.  Large 
expectations  are  entertained.  .  .  .  We  have  in  this  stake  entries 
of  the  most  splendid  turfmen  in  several  of  the  adjacent  states.  One 
—  and  a  counter  —  will  be  from  the  Old  Dominion  —  several  from 
Alabama,  Mississippi."  1 

Other  evidence  —  without  meaning  to .  say  it  is  all  — 
picked  up  at  random  is  here  given: 

All  of  the  six  races  run  at  the  Nashville  spring  meeting, 
1838;  four  of  the  five  at  the  Nashville  spring  meeting, 
1839;  and  four  of  the  seven  at  the  Nashville  September 
meeting,  1841,  were  won  by  Sumner  County  horses;  most 
of  them  wholly,  and  the  others  in  part,  descended  from 
one  or  more  of  the  foundation  sires  or  dams,  or  both, 

1  The  Barry  Sweepstakes  for  3-year  olds,  2-mile  heats,  $1,000 
entrance,  $250  forfeit,  23  subscribers,  was  run  at  Gallatin  Sept.  14, 
1840.  Three  started:  Thos.  Barry's  Celerity,  by  imp  Leviathan, 
dam  Patty  Puff;  G.  W.  Parker's  Flight  by  imp  Leviathan,  dam  by 
Sir  Charles;  and  Samuel  Ragland's  Lady  Sherbrooke,  by  imp  Priam, 
dam  an  imported  mare  by  Woful.  Celerity  won  the  first  heat  in 
3:49,  but  fell  in  the  second  and  Lady  Sherbrooke  tumbled  over  her. 
Flight  then  went  home  and  pulled  down  the  $8,000,  which  was  $900 
more  than  the  "  Great  Inauguration  stake  "  at  the  opening  of  Jerome 
Park,  New  York,  in  October,  1866. 


H2      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

named  in  this  chapter.  The  four  winners  in  1841  were 
owned  by  Charles  Lewis;  three  of  the  four  were  by  Levi- 
athan. Another  of  Leviathan's  get,  owned  in  another 
county,  won  at  this  meeting.  In  1841  A.  P.  Yourie  jogged 
•  out  to  CarroIIton,  Booneville  and  Dover,  Missouri,  with 
three  samples  of  Sumner  County  "nags,"  won  six  races, 
lost  one  and  paid  forfeit  in  one.  He  "showed  'em"  so 
well  they  thought  he  was  a  native  of  their  own  state. 

WAGNER  AND  ALBION 

In  1843  Maj.  Geo.  A.  Wyllie  brought  Wagner,  by  Sir 
Charles,  dam  Maria  West  by  Marion,  to  Sumner  County; 
and  after  Leviathan's  death  Col.  Elliott  put  Albion  at 
the  head  of  his  stud. 

Wagner  played  a  leading  role  in  two  of  the  most  memor- 
able contests  in  the  annals  of  Kentucky  racing.  At 
Louisville,  on  Sept.  30,  1839,  he  met  the  great  Kentucky 
champion,  Grey  Eagle,  by  Woodpecker,  in  a  4-mile  heat 
contest  for  a  sweepstake,  $14,000.  Wagner  was  15^ 
hands  high,  a  handsome  chestnut  with  a  blaze  in  his  face 
and  white  hind  feet.  Grey  Eagle  was  "one  of  the  finest 
looking  horses  that  ever  charmed  the  eye.  He  was  16 
hands  high,  a  beautiful  gray,  with  flowing  silver  mane 
and  tail."  Wagner  was  owned  by  John  Campbell,  of 
Maryland,  and  run  by  James  S.  Garrison,  of  Louisiana; 
Grey  Eagle  was  owned  by  A.  L.  Shotwell  and  run  by  Oliver 
and  Dickey.  All  Kentucky  witnessed  the  race  and  not  a 
dollar  of  Kentucky  money  was  bet  against  Grey  Eagle; 
that  would  have  been  an  unpardonable  sin.  Wagner  won 
the  first  heat;  the  close  of  the  second  is  thus  described  by 
Editor  Porter  of  The  Spirit: 

"From  the  Oakland  House  home  it  was  a  terrible  race.  By  the 
most  extraordinary  exertions,  Wagner  got  up  neck  and  neck  with 
the  gallant  gray,  as  they  swung  round  the  turn  into  the  quarter 
stretch.  The  feelings  of  the  assembled  thousands  were  wrought  up  to 


Sumner  County,  Breeding  Centre         113 

a  pitch  absolutely  painful.  Silence  the  most  profound  reigned 
over  that  vast  assembly  as  these  noble  animals  sped  on  as  if  life  and 
death  called  forth  their  utmost  energies.  Both  jockeys  had  their 
whip-hands  at  work,  and  at  every  stroke  each  spur,  with  a  desperate 
stab,  was  buried  to  the  rowel-head.  Grey  Eagle,  for  the  first  hun- 
dred yards,  was  clearly  gaining;  but  in  another  instant,  Wagner 
was  even  with  him.  Both  were  out  and  doing  their  best.  It  was 
anybody's  race  yet;  now  Wagner,  now  Grey  Eagle,  has  the  advan- 
tage. It  will  be  a  dead  heat.  '  See,  Grey  Eagle's  got  him ! '  '  No  — 
Wagner's  ahead.'  A  moment  ensues  —  the  people  shout  —  hearts 
throb  —  ladies  faint  —  a  thrill  of  emotion,  and  the  race  is  over. 
Wagner  wins  by  a  neck  in  7:44,  the  best  race  ever  run  South  of  the 
Potomac." 

Kentucky  made  a  motion  for  a  new  trial,  which  was 
granted,  and  the  horses  met  again  five  days  later  on  the 
same  course,  same  distance,  same  crowd  —  or  larger  and 
more  excited.  Grey  Eagle  won  the  first  heat,  Wagner 
the  second;  in  the  third  Grey  Eagle  broke  down  —  and 
so  did  Kentucky. 

Of  20  races  run,  Wagner  won  14,  n  of  them  being  of 
4-mile  heats;  his  earnings  $36,200. 

Wagner's  fame,  therefore,  preceded  him  to  Sumner. 
But  with  Albion  it  was  quite  different  —  he  had  no  fame 
to  precede  him.  It  was  not  known  who  imported  him. 
He  was  landed  at  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  the  ship 
China,  in  January  1839,  and  was  purchased  at  auction 
by  Col.  Geo.  W.  Polk  for  $1,600.  He  was  trained  awhile 
at  Richmond  and  was  later  sold  to  Lucius  J.  Polk  who 
kept  him  in  the  stud  several  years  and  then  sold  him  to 
Col.  Elliott.  Tradition,  supported  by  the  records,  is  that 
Albion  was  a  failure  in  the  stud  until  he  went  to  Elliott's. 
At  any  rate  Wagner  and  Albion  (and  imp  Sovereign 
who  also  stood  at  Elliott's)  well  sustained  the  reputation 
which  their  predecessors  had  given  to  Sumner  County  as 
a  producer  of  fine  stock.  Albion's  dam  was  Panthea,  by 
Comus  or  Blacklock. 


CHAPTER  VII 
TENNESSEE  AND  NORTH  ALABAMA 

COL.  GEORGE  ELLIOTT,  after  the  passing  of  his  elder 
contemporaries,  continued  "the  dean  of  the  institution" 
among  all  the  younger  men,  who,  prior  to  the  Civil  War, 
labored  zealously  to  keep  Sumner's  greatest  industry  up  to 
the  high  standard  set  by  "the  fathers." 

Thomas  Barry,  who,  late  in  life,  was  Chancellor  at 
Gallatin,  succeeded  his  father  at  "Barrymore."  He  did 
much  to  improve  Tennessee  stock  and  was  a  frequent  con- 
tributor to  The  Turf  Register;  and  to  similar  publications 
of  later  days,  down  to  the  time  of  his  death  about  1892. 
To  Judge  Barry  the  passing  of  the  old  time  4-miIer  was 
the  cause  of  great  regret. 

James  Cryer's  son,  Rev.  Hardy  Murfree  Cryer,  was 
born  in  North  Carolina  in  1792;  married  in  1812;  was  a 
member  of  the  Tennessee  Conference,  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  1813-16,  and  served  one  year  on  the  Nashville 
district.  After  withdrawing  from  the  itinerant  ranks  he 
served  as  a  "local"  preacher  and  continued  to  exercise 
the  offices  of  a  minister  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His 
many  contributions  to  The  Turf  Register  and  The  Spirit 
of  the  Times  are  rich  in  Biblical  and  classical  allusions, 
after  the  style  of  that  day;  show  much  force  and  orig- 
inality; and  amply  support  the  statement  of  McFerrin 
that  he  was  of  an  ardent  temperament  and  had  a  brilliant 
mind.  His  ardor  distinguished  him  as  a  breeder  no  less 
than  as  a  preacher.  He  kept  more  thoroughbred  stallions 


TlMOLEON 


AMERICAN  ECLIPSE 


Tennessee  and  North  Alabama  115 

than  any  man  of  his  time  except,  perhaps,  Thomas  Alder- 
son;  owned  a  few  brood  mares;  and  took  a  great  interest 
in  turf  events.  From  his  father  he  inherited  Madam 
Tonson,  and  after  her  death  (as  his  property)  he  wrote 
her  obituary,  in  which  he  said: 

"The  last  display  of  inimitable  grandeur  she  ever  exhibited  was 
in  my  yard.  The  grooms  of  Arab  and  Havoc  had  been  making  a  dis- 
play  of  them  both,  in  view  of  each  other,  and  they  became  much 
excited,  threw  themselves  in  lofty  attitudes  and  were  dismissed. 
The  old  mare  had  just  been  turned  into  an  adjoining  lot,  but  was  a 
spectator  of  what  was  going  on.  After  the  stallions  were  stabled, 
the  gate  was  opened;  she  walked  back  and  no  one  thought  anything 
more  about  it,  till  she  walked  up  to  the  very  spot  where  those  daring 
fellows  had  been  whatting  and  coming  again.  She  looked  agitated 
—  commenced  pawing  the  earth  and  snorting;  at  last  she  raised 
her  full  flowing  tail,  and,  for  several  minutes  walked  the  yard  '  with 
the  tread  of  dominion  in  her  haughty  step/  as  much  as  to  say,  '  Ye 
peerless  steeds,  though  ye  are  as  the  feathered  Mercury,  look  at 
me,  the  mother  of  the  Gracchi.  Though  I  am  old  and  near  my 
journey's  end,  still  there  will  one  arise  from  me  (the  Phoenix  of  the 
West)  that  will  perpetuate  my  name  with  my  youthful  charms.' 

"...  I  gave  her  a  decent  grave,  my  wife  and  children  all  protest- 
ing against  the  dogs  and  buzzards  rioting  on  her  carcass." 

Thus  did  the  thoroughbred  enter  into  the  hopes,  affec- 
tions and  daily  life  of  past  generations.1 

Not  the  least  interesting  phase  of  Cryer's  career  was 
the  friendship  existing  between  him  and  President  Jack- 
son, as  set  forth  in  the  Appendix  to  this  volume. 

Maj.  J.  R.  Hubbard  ("Albion"),  writing  in  The  Spirit 
of  The  Times  of  a  trip  to  Sumner  County  early  in  the 
i88o's,  said  this  of  Rev.  H.  M.  Cryer: 

*'  He  was  a  man  of  strong  common  sense,  and  of  decided  influence 
with  the  people.  He  got  into  difficulties  at  one  time  with  his  church. 
He  was  charged  with  horse-racing,  and  summoned  to  trial  before  a 
church  tribunal.  The  proof  was  clear  and  conclusive,  but  the  evi- 

1  See  Addenda  H. 


irit        \ 

the 


1 1 6      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

deuce  showed  that  the  horse  was  raced  in  the  name  of  Col.  George 
Elliott,  and  that  this  gentleman  owned  one-half  of  him.  After  all 
the  evidence  had  been  taken,  Mr.  Cryer  was  asked  by  the  Judges  if 
he  had  anything  to  say  in  his  defense.  *  Nothing,'  was  his  reply, 
'  except  that  I  would  like  for  you  to  let  me  know  how  I  can  arrange 
it  for  my  half  of  the  horse  to  stand  in  the  stable  while  Col.  Elliott's 
half  is  racing.  The  horse  belongs  to  us  jointly.  He  has  the  same 
right  to  control  him  that  I  have,  and  he  will  race  him  and  I  cannot 
keep  him  from  it.'  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  defense  was  com- 
plete and  an  acquittal  inevitable." 

The  fortune  inherited  by  Cryer  was  not  squandered 
on  race  horses;  $50,000  of  it  went  to  discharge  surety 
obligations  incurred  for  three  friends. 

Cryer,  like  Saunders,  was  more  orthodox  —  in  one 
respect,  at  least  —  than  many  Methodists  of  the  present 
day  who  taboo  the  race  horse  —  he  was  the  father  of 
thirteen  children.  Nor  were  these  two  ministers  any 
the  less  pious  because  of  their  race-horse  affiliations. 
Cryer  and  Saunders  "talked  horse"  till  time  for  family 
prayers  and  after  rising  from  their  knees  "talked  horse" 
late  into  the  night.  Cryer  was  not  able  to  attest  his  de- 
votion to  Methodism  by  founding  a  church;  but  his  faith 
he  put  of  record  in  his  Bible,  in  his  hours  of  darkest 
~gioom,  as  one  after  the  other  of  his  little  ones  was  laid 
to  rest.  Which  being  so,  who  can  doubt  or  criticise  after 
reading  this  Bible  entry  written  and  signed  by  one  of 
his  sons: 

"Hardy  M.  Cryer  Departed  this  life  on  the  evening  of  the  seventh 
of  February,  1846  —  He  was  a  kind  Father  and  Christian." 

The  name  of  Thomas  Foxhall,  an  adventurer  from  Eng- 
land, got  into  the  thoroughbred  annals  of  Sumner  County 
by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he,  a  very  young  man,  married  the 
aged  widow  of  James  Cryer.  For  mistreating  her  he  had 
the  honor  of  being  horsewhipped  by  her  ministerial  son. 


Tennessee  and  North  Alabama  117 

Foxhall  is  credited  by  Balie  Peyton  and  others  with 
having  bred  the  four  Tonson  brothers,  whose  dam,  as 
shown  above,  was  left  by  James  Cryer  to  his  son,  Hardy 
M.  Cryer. 

Jo  C.  Guild,  who  served  five  terms  in  the  legislature,  a 
brief  time  as  Chancellor  and  one  term  as  Circuit  Judge,  and 
who  was  twice  a  Democratic  elector,  actively  engaged  in 
raising  horses  before  1830  and  kept  at  it  until  after  the 
Civil  War.  Proserpine  (dam  by  Pacolet)  produced  for  him, 
besides  John  Malone,  Caroline  Malone  and  four  others 
by  Leviathan.  Flight,  by  Leviathan,  brought  him  Oliver 
by  Wagner.  A  daughter  of  Black  Sophia,  bred  to  Wagner 
produced  a  mare  that  foaled  Hiawatha,  by  Albion,  and 
eight  other  colts,  among  which  were  Capitola,  Duke  of 
Orleans,  and  Nannie  Douglass.  Gloriana,  by  American 
Eclipse,  produced  for  him  Jack  Malone  by  Lexington, 
and  Lucille  and  Patrician  by  Hiawatha.  Hiawatha, 
Jack  Malone  and  Beeswing  were  the  three  most  famous 
horses  Guild  owned. 

In  a  race  of  "two  miles  and  repeat,"  run  over  the  Albion 
course  at  Gallatin,  Hiawatha  beat  Dan  Calgy's  PotSos 
and  Eli  Odum's  Mary  Wyllie,  foaled  1855,  by  imp  Albion, 
dam  by  imp  Sovereign;  —  by  imp  Leviathan;  —  by 
Bertrand.  A  statement  made  by  Odum  to  the  effect 
that  Mary  Wyllie's  defeat  was  due  solely  to  the  breaking 
of  her  bridle-bit,  "brought  on  more  talk"  —  and  that  of 
the  heated  sort  —  between  Guild  and  Odum,  and  it  ended 
in  Guild  accepting  Odum's  banter  to  run  his  mare  against 
Guild's  horse  for  $6,000  a  side,  4-mile  heats,  over  the 
Nashville  course.  Each  horse  had  a  host  of  "friends"; 
the  contest,  originating  as  it  did,  caused  great  excitement 
and  much  betting.  An  immense  throng  witnessed  the 
event.  Hiawatha  won  the  first  heat.  In  the  second, 
Mary  set  out  from  the  first  to  run  him  down.  For  the 


ii8      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

first  three  miles  they  ran  head  and  head;  then  Mary 
weakened  and  Hiawatha  left  her,  and,  seeing  she  was 
done  for,  came  in  under  a  strong  pull.  If  Mary  had  made 
Hiawatha  run  it  through,  experts — it  is  pleasing  to  note — 
said  he  would  have  equalled  Lexington's  record  of  7:19! . 

After  this  race  Guild  sold  Hiawatha  to  Dr.  James 
Bradley  for  $6,000  cash,  but  bought  him  back,  after  he 
broke  down  in  a  race  at  Memphis,  and  put  him  in  the  stud 
where  he  proved  a  great  success.  He  lived  until  his 
twenty-fourth  year  and  was  buried  on  Guild's  farm,  a 
short  distance  south  of  Gallatin. 

Balie  Peyton's  stud  usually  contained  fifteen  or  more 
brood  mares.  Among  those  he  owned  prior  to  1840  was 
the  aged  Lady  Burton,  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  Sultana  who 
was  out  of  the  mare  and  by  the  horse  sent  as  a  present 
by  the  Bey  of  Tunis  to  President  Jefferson,  who  sold 
them  and  deposited  the  money  to  the  credit  of  the  United 
States.  Others  were  imp  Anna  Maria;  Maria  Shepherd, 
by  Sir  Archy;  Minerva  Chance,  descended  from  Craig's 
imported  Highflyer;  and  Lilac  (by  Leviathan),  Gen.  J.  A. 
Mabry's  famous  racer,  for  whom  Peyton  paid  $3,400. 

In  1841  John  Q  Stevens,  of  New  York,  presented  Pey- 
ton with  Cora,  own  sister  to  Medoc.  In  conjunction 
with  Gov.  Butler  of  South  Carolina,  Peyton,  in  the  same 
year,  purchased  of  Col.  W.  R.  Johnson  and  Capt.  D.  H. 
Branch  of  Petersburg,  Virginia,  Trifle,  by  Sir  Charles  and 
Atalanta,  by  Industry.  Atalanta  had  beat  nearly  every 
prominent  horse  of  her  day,  and  it  was  Col.  John- 
son's opinion  that  she  was  the  only  horse  in  the  country 
that  could  possibly  compete  with  Boston.  Trifle's  reputa- 
tion on  the  Turf  was  second  to  that  of  no  horse  ever 
bred  in  this  country.  Of  24  races  run  she  won  20,  14  of 
them  being  of  4-mile  heats.  Her  dam  was  by  Cicero, 
son  of  Sir  Archy;  and  she  traced,  on  her  dam's  side,  to 


Tennessee  and  North  Alabama  1 19 

Bedford  and  Medley.  Cora,  from  an  injury,  left  the  turf 
at  3  years,  but  was  considered  a  flyer.  All  of  these 
mares  were  kept  at  "Station  Camp." 

When  purchased,  Atalanta  was  in  foal  to  Boston  and 
Trifle  to  American  Eclipse.  For  each  of  these  foals,  as 
sucklings  or  yearlings,  their  owners  were  offered  more 
than  they  had  paid  for  both  mares.  Atalanta's  foal  was 
named  Cost  Johnson  and  became  celebrated.  Trifle  pro- 
duced two  other  foals  by  American  Eclipse:  Miss  Peyton 
(in  1843)  and  Gloriana  (in  1846)  later  owned  by  Jo  C. 
Guild,  as  stated. 

In  addition  to  Balie  Peyton's  horses,  there  were  at 
Station  Camp  during  the  30*8  a  number  owned  by  two  of 
his  brothers,  William  Randolph  ("Ran")  and  Robert 
Holmes  Peyton.  "Ran"  Peyton  owned  Black  Kitty 
Clover,  a  famous  mare  by  American  Eclipse,  and  a 
number  of  young  ones  by  Ratler  and  Bertrand,  valued  at 
from  $1,500  to  $3,000  each. 

Thus  Balie  Peyton  and  his  brothers  laid  the  foundation 
of  a  stud  that  produced  many  fine  horses  during  the  next 
twenty  years;  and  the  remnants  produced  some  good 
ones  "after  the  war." 

Satellite,  by  Albion,  out  of  a  Leviathan  mare  (g.  dam 
imp  Anna  Maria)  ran  successfully  in  England.  Satellite's 
dam,  bred  to  Thomas  Barry's  O'Meara  (son  of  Glencoe, 
dam  by  Leviathan),  produced  Fanny  McAIister  (1858), 
who  produced,  among  others,  Muggins  by  Jack  Malone 
and  Richelieu  by  Hiawatha.  Chickamauga,  by  Jack 
Malone,  was  out  of  Alboni  who  produced  eleven  other 
foals,  the  last  in  1872.  Alboni  was  by  Albion,  dam  Noty 
Price  by  Cost  Johnson.  All  the  above  named  were  famous 
horses  of  their  time. 

Col.  Jesse  Cage,  whose  farm  lay  a  mile  west  of  Pey- 
ton's, at  the  mouth  of  Bender's  Ferry,  or  Cage's  Bend, 


I2O      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

road,  was  a  prominent  figure  in  all  turf  matters  of  Sumner 
and  other  Middle  Basin  counties,  and  was  more  than 
ordinarily  successful  as  a  breeder.  One  of  his  brood 
mares  was  Fanny  Maria  (by  Pacolet)  whose  dam,  by  imp 
Stirling,  Bruce  says,  "came  from  one  of  the  best  racing 
families  in  the  United  States."  Fanny  Maria  produced, 
among  others,  Lisbon  Maid  by  Napoleon  (1828)  and 
Queen  of  Trumps.  A  Stockholder  mare  owned  by  Cage 
produced,  besides  The  Poney,  eight  other  foals  by  Levi- 
athan (five  unnamed),  one  by  Glencoe  and  one  by  Wagner. 

The  most  extensive  breeder  in  Davidson  County  was 
Leonard  P.  Cheatham,  a  lawyer,  and  father  of  Gen.  B. 
F.  Cheatham,  C.S.A.  In  1839  Cheatham  owned  nine 
brood  mares  and  about  twenty  colts  and  fillies.  Gen. 
B.  F.  Cheatham,  of  the  Confederate  Army,  was,  himself, 
a  breeder.  One  of  his  mares,  Cottage  Girl,  foaled  1849, 
produced  fourteen  foals.  She  was  by  imp  Ainderby,  dam 
by  Leviathan. 

William  Williams,  of  Davidson  County,  was,  in  his  own 
words,  "an  occasional  breeder  on  a  small  scale,"  and  al- 
ways kept  a  few  brood  mares  of  the  richest  blood.  As 
late  as  1830  Williams  and  other  members  of  the  family  had 
descendants  of  a  horse  and  mare  owned  by  their  father, 
Elisha  Williams,  of  Scotland  Neck,  Halifax  County,  North 
Carolina,  between  1786  and  1791.  The  horse  was  the  fa- 
mous Harris'  Eclipse  by  imp  Fearnought;  the  mare  by  imp 
Janus.  A  noted  brood  mare  of  her  time  owned  by 
Williams  was  Fanny  Foster,  by  Symmes*  Wildair,  dam  by 
old  Partner.  Williams  lived  four  miles  from  Nashville 
on  the  Gallatin  road.  As  Circuit  Judge  he  presided  over 
many  trials  in  the  Court  House,  and  as  Secretary  of  the 
Nashville  Jockey  Club  he  arranged  for  many  trials  on 
the  race  track.  He  attended  Harvard  with  Joseph  Story 
and  corresponded  with  him  through  subsequent  years. 


Tennessee  and  North  Alabama  121 

Also,  he  frequently  wrote  for  The  Turf  Register.  His  most 
lengthy  contributions  to  thoroughbred  literature  may  be 
found  in  The  Tennessee  Agriculturist,  of  1840,  and  in 
"Frank  Forester's"  "The  Horse  of  America." 

William  Giles  Harding  was  born  at  Belle  Meade  in 
1808.  About  1829  he  settled  on  Stones  River  and  lived 
there  several  years.  In  1839  his  father,  John  Harding, 
surrendered  the  management  of  Belle  Meade  to  him. 
Many  years  prior  to  1839  John  Harding  had  taken  an 
interest  in  thoroughbreds;  beyond  this  the  records  at 
hand  do  not  speak.  It  is  possible  that  the  following 
letter,  written  from  Belle  Meade  to  the  editor  of  The  TurJ 
Register,  shows  the  beginning  of  the  Belle  Meade  breeding 
establishment  so  well  remembered  by  this  generation: 

"Sir  —  This  is,  I  suppose,  the  acknowledged  centre  of  the  'race- 
horse region.'  Blood  stock  here  is  all  the  go.  To  be  without  it  is 
to  be  out  of  fashion,  and  destitute  of  taste.  So  I  too  have  procured 
a  little  bit  of  the  real  grit,  which  by-and-by  I  hope  to  increase.  I 
began  with  old  Juliet,  by  Kosciusko;  bred  by  Col.  Singleton  of 
South  Carolina,  foaled  in  1822."  After  stating  Juliet's  pedigree 
and  performances  Harding  continues:  "Since  it  is  a  custom  to  be- 
speak names  in  your  valuable  Journal  I  will  claim  for  all  mine  at 
once,  the  Greek  Alphabet  from  Alpha  to  Omega,  inclusive. 
"Alpha,  bay,  by  imp  Leviathan,  out  of  Juliet;  the  first  colt  bred  by 

me;  foaled  wtb  March,  1836.    Sold  to  John  C.  Beasley  for  $1,240, 

and  taken  to  Louisiana  last  Fall. 
"Beta,  ch.  f.  by  imp  Leviathan,  out  of  Juliet;    of  good  size  and 

beautiful  proportions.     She  is  entered  in  the  Criterion  Stake, 

4-mile  heats,  subscription  $1,000  each. 
"Gamma,  gr.  f.  by  Pacific,  out  of  Melzare's  dam  by  Sir  Richard 

[Tonson],  grandam  by  imp  Eagle,  g.  grandam  by  Wilkes'  Wonder 

—  Chanticleer  —  imp    Sterling  —  Clodius  —  imp    Silver-Eye  — 

Jolly    Roger  —  Partner,  etc.     Gamma  is  a  promising  filly  and 

has  two  engagements  for  next  Fall. 

"I  hope  ere  long  I  shall  be  able  to  send  you  a  morej  interesting 
account  of  this  Greek  Alphabet. 

W.  G.  HARDING." 
"June  ist  1839." 


122      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Gamma  turned  out  to  be  a  famous  racer. 

Lucius  J.  Polk,  born  in  1802,  owned  "Hamilton  Place," 
a  part  of  a  5,000  acre  tract  at  Mt.  Pleasant  that  was  willed 
by  Col.  William  Polk,  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  to  his 
four  sons,  Leonidas,  George,  Rufus  K.  and  Lucius  J. 
The  two  last  named  were  devoted  to  the  thoroughbred 
and  owned  jointly  and  severally  one  of  the  most  valuable 
stables  in  the  State.  In  commenting  on  some  of  Lucius 
J.  Polk's  importations  the  editor  of  The  Spirit  wrote: 
"  It  is  highly  gratifying  to  see  gentlemen  of  the  character, 
spirit  and  wealth  of  Mr.  Polk  engaging  in  an  enterprise 
fraught  with  so  much  importance  in  a  national  and  patri- 
otic point  of  view.  In  a  very  few  years  his  breeding  and 
racing  establishment  will  be  second  to  none  in  the  Union." 

Maj.  Allen  J.  Davie,  who  owned  Sir  Archy  in  North 
Carolina,  lived  in  Nashville  a  few  years  prior  to  1820; 
and  —  it  appears  from  the  list  of  subscribers  to  the  Peyton 
stake  —  later  returned  to  Tennessee.  He  was  editor  of 
The  Turf  Register  in  1836.  He  imported  many  horses  into 
North  Carolina. 

Judge  Robert  Weakley,  a  contemporary  of  William 
Williams  at  the  Nashville  bar,  owned  a  stallion,  Black- 
And-AII-BIack,  by  Madison,  son  of  imp  Diomed,  dam 
Virago  by  imp  Whip,  and  several  full  blooded  mares. 
George  S.  Yerger,  State  Attorney-General  and  Reporter 
for  eighteen  years;  his  lawyer  brother,  Jacob  S.  Yerger; 
and  Montgomery  Bell,  founder  of  the  still  flourishing 
Montgomery  Bell  Academy,  are  on  record  as  making 
sales  of  thoroughbreds.  Bell's  sale  was  four  Luzboroughs 
and  one  Merman,  all  under  two  years,  showing  that  even 
at  this  early  period  this  Tennessee  philanthropist  had  his 
heart  set  on  the  "young  ones." 

To  this  list  of  Davidson  County  notables  may  be 
added  that  of  United  States  Supreme  Court  Judge,  John 


Tennessee  and  North  Alabama  123 

Catron,  who  is  on  record  as  owning  race  "nags."  William 
Carroll,  twelve  years  Governor,  doubtless  owned  a  few,  as 
he  frequently  acted  in  an  official  capacity  at  the  races. 

In  regard  to  race  horses  Henry  Baldwin,  Jr.,  of  William- 
son County,  followed  the  example  of  his  father's  associate 
on  the  United  States  Supreme  Bench,  Judge  Gabriel 
Duval,  who,  during  his  long  service  as  a  member  of  the 
highest  Court,  was  one  of  the  Turf  leaders  of  Maryland. 

In  The  Turf  Register  of  March,  1830,  Sir  Charles,  then 
the  property  of  Col.  W.  R.  Johnson  and  B.  Moody,  was 
advertised  to  stand  "  at  the  stable  of  Robert  Hurt,  Esq. 
ten  miles  north  of  Halifax  Court  House,  Virginia,  at 
$25."  This  was  Rev.  Robert  Hurt  who  later  moved  to 
West  Tennessee.  He  was  tried  by  his  Church,  the  Bap- 
tist, for  "following  the  fashion"  with  respect  to  breeding 
race  horses,  but  "came  clear"  on  the  plea  that  he  never 
shared  in  the  purses  his  horses  won.  Rev.  Robert  Hurt 
was  the  father  of  W.  W.  Hurt  who,  as  elsewhere  shown, 
was  a  successful  turfman  in  West  Tennessee,  until  he  re- 
turned to  Virginia.  Rev.  Robert  Hurt  was  the  grandfather 
of  Gen.  W.  H.  Jackson,  of  Belle  Meade  memory. 

Among  other  prominent  breeders  before  1840  were  F. 
ZoIIicoffer,  J.  H.  Webster,  Nimrod  Porter,  Thomas  C. 
Porter,  John  G.  and  Edward  Shegogg,  all  of  Maury; 
Liles  E.  Abernathy  of  Giles;  Thomas  Mumford  of 
Wilson;  William  Lytle  and  J.  G.  Bostwick  of  Rutherford; 
John  D.  Tyler  and  George  W.  Cheatham  of  Montgomery; 
M.  E.  Broyles  (or  Boyles),  of  La  Grange;  Charles 
H.  Dickinson,  Charles  Bosley,  John  Bosley,  M.  R.  Cock- 
rill,  Arnold  Russell  and  Col.  Henry  L.  Douglass  of  David- 
son; Wilson  Cage,  Reuben  Cage,  Orville  Cage,  James 
Douglass,  B.  F.  Simpson,  Thomas  C.  Trimble,  Henry 
Duffy,  Gen.  Joseph  Miller,  Maj.  W.  H.  Harvey  and  Eli 
Odum,  all  of  Sumner;  Beverly  Reece  and  James  H. 


124      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Bradfute  of  Williamson,  and  many  others  prominently 
mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  A  famous  brood 
mare  owned  by  Charles  Bosley  was  Madam  Bosley, 
Gamma's  dam.  Between  1833  and  1859  she  produced 
fifteen  foals.  A  still  more  remarkable  mare  was  Duke 
W.  Sumner's  Matilda,  by  Greytail  Florizel.  She  was 
foaled  April  12,  1820.  Beginning  in  1825  she  produced 
a  colt  every  year  up  to  and  including  1842.  The  first 
four  colts  (ages  not  given)  when  sold,  averaged  $300. 
Of  the  next  nine,  all  by  Pacific,  one  died  and  the  other 
eight  sold  for  sums  ranging  from  $950  to  $2,000,  the  aver- 
age for  the  eight  being  $  i  ,268.75.  The  twelve  colts  brought 
$11,350,  an  average  of  about  $946.  Sales  of  last  five 
colts  not  noted. 

NORTH  ALABAMA  BREEDERS 

James  Jackson  was  born  in  Ireland,  Oct.  28,  1782.  His 
parents  were  in  comfortable  circumstances  and  he  was 
well  educated.  With  Thomas  Kirkman,  who  married 
his  sister  Ellen,  Jackson  came  to  Nashville  well  supplied 
with  coin  of  the  realm  and  began  life  as  a  merchant  on  the 
Public  Square. 

If  Jackson  did  not  have  the  race  horse  fever  when  he 
left  Ireland  he  soon  took  it  in  Nashville;  as  early  as  1807, 
he  owned  thoroughbreds.  Ten  years  later  he  was  one  of 
the  leading  horsemen  of  Tennessee;  and,  doubtless,  it 
was  to  take  care  of  his  horses  that  he  moved  to  a  small 
farm  called  "Green vale"  "two  miles  from  Haysboro  on 
the  Haysboro  road." 

About  1819  Jackson,  Gen.  John  Coffee  and  others 
organized  the  Cypress  Land  Company  that  bought  a 
large  area  of  land  around  Florence,  Alabama.  At  the 
Forks  of  the  Big  Cypress  and  the  Little  Cypress  was  a 
magnificent  building  site  occupied  by  Doublehead's  wig- 


Tennessee  and  North  Alabama  125 

warn.  Here  Jackson  built  an  "old  time"  Southern 
mansion  (still  standing)  and  "dispensed  a  princely  hos- 
pitality" until  his  death  in  1840. 

"He  was  equal  to  most  men  we  have  known,  in  native 
vigor  and  intellect,"  wrote  the  editor  of  The  Florence 
Gazette.  "  He  possessed  a  clear,  discriminating  judgment, 
and  great  firmness  of  purpose.  He  was  a  man  of  strong 
passions,  had  a  warm  heart  and  a  liberal  hand.  The 
claims  of  suffering  humanity  were  never  presented  to  him 
in  vain.  Those  whom  he  believed  to  be  his  friends  he 
never  deserted,  if  all  others  did.  He  was  a  liberal  con- 
tributor to  objects  of  public  benefit,  and  ever  ready  to 
patronize  what  he  was  convinced  would  advance  the 
highest  interests  of  his  adopted  country." 

"The  eulogy  which  is  paid  him  in  this  brief  extract 
speaks  the  unanimous  opinion  of  his  friends  in  Alabama 
and  Tennessee,"  wrote  the  editor  of  The  TurJ  Register, 
"and  it  is  grateful  to  our  own  feelings  to  be  able  from 
personal  acquaintance  fully  to  confirm  such  encomiums 
upon  the  deceased." 

"He  was  possessed  of  great  energy,  tact  and  judgment" 
—  says  Brewer's  "Alabama,"  —  "which  added  to  an  open 
and  manly  deportment,  wealth  and  liberality,  gave  him  ex- 
tensive popularity  and  influence."  He  was  first  elected  to 
the  General  Assembly  in  1822  and  was  President  of  the 
Senate  in  1830.  The  fact  that  he  came  to  be  a  Whig  was 
due  in  part,  if  not  entirely,  to  his  estrangement  from 
Gen.  Andrew  Jackson,  with  whom  he  had  been  on  terms 
of  intimate  friendship.1 

1  This  estrangement  is  said  to  have  been  caused  by  Gen.  Jack- 
son's long  delay  in  paying  borrowed  money.  So  bitter  was  the 
Kirkman-Jackson  hatred  of  "Old  Hickory"  that  Mary  Kirkman's 
marriage  to  Gen.  Richard  K.  Call,  of  Florida  fame,  was  opposed  on 
the  sole  ground  that  Call  was  Gen.  Jackson's  friend.  The  mar- 


126      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

The  chief  industry  at  "The  Forks"  was  the  breeding 
and  training  of  race  horses.  At  that  period  there  was 
close  affiliation,  due  to  settlement,  kinship  and  commercial 
interests,  between  the  people  of  North  Alabama  and 
Middle  Tennessee.  Huntsville  and  Florence  were  in  the 
Tennessee  Conference  until  after  1840  and  were  just  as 
closely  identified  with  the  Tennessee  turf  and  breeding 
industry.  Reports  of  races  show  that  for  the  next  twenty 
years  after  moving  to  Alabama,  Jackson  had  entries  at 
nearly  all  the  best  meetings  in  Middle  Tennessee,  which 
fact  made  his  presence  —  or  that  of  a  representative  — 
necessary  in  Tennessee  for  a  great  part  of  the  time.  He 
was  a  sort  of  non-resident  Tennessean. 

Thomas  Kirkman' s  four  sons,  James,  Thomas,  Hugh 
and  John,  actively  engaged  in  the  breeding  business. 
Hugh  and  John  lived  in  Nashville;  James  in  Louisiana 
and  Thomas  in  Alabama.  Thomas  and  James  were  asso- 
ciated with  James  Jackson  in  the  management  of  his  breed- 
ing interests.  Jackson,  and  Hugh,  Thomas,  and  James 
Kirkman,  in  1837,  owned,  severally,  about  twenty  brood 
mares,  kept  at  "The  Forks-of-the-Cypress" ;  ten  were  im- 
ported and  one,  Pigeon  by  Pacolet  (Pigeon's  dam,  imported, 
by  Waxy),  was  bred  by  Benjamin  McCuIIoch  of  Ruther- 
ford County,  Tennessee.  Among  the  mares  returned  as 
James  Kirkman's  property  was  Eliza,  by  Rubens. 

Jackson's  fame  as  a  breeder  is  based  mostly  on  the 
success  of  Leviathan  and  Glencoe  in  the  stud. 

riage  took  place  at  the  Hermitage,  and  when  "Old  Hickory"  called 
on  Mrs.  Ellen  Kirkman  to  effect  a  reconciliation  he  was  persuaded  to 
get  out  at  the  point  of  a  loaded  pistol  in  the  hands  of  Mrs.  Kirkman. 
This  was  not  Gen.  Jackson's  first  experience  in  helping  a  friend 
to  out-general  obdurate  parents.  When  he  was  a  United  States 
Senator,  or  about  that  time,  he  helped  Samuel  Donelson  steal  Polly 
Smith  from  a  second  story  window  of  "Rock  Castle"  in  Sumner 
County. 


Tennessee  and  North  Alabama  127 

There  was  a  close  business  relationship  between  Jackson 
and  Col.  George  Elliott  in  all  breeding  and  turf  matters; 
they  did  more  for  the  stock  interests  of  Tennessee  than 
any  two  men  of  their  time;  no  two  since  their  day  have 
done  more.  No  history  of  Tennessee,  or  of  the  American 
thoroughbred,  can  be  complete  without  giving  them  the 
same  place  of  honor  in  its  pages  that  they  occupied  among 
their  contemporaries. 

Because  of  its  close  proximity  to  Tennessee  and  its 
influence  on  Tennessee  stock,  mention  of  E.  H.  Board- 
man's  establishment  at  Boardman's  Mills,  near  Huntsville, 
Alabama,  is  here  in  order.  In  1838  it  consisted  of  two 
imported  stallions : — Consol  and  Berner's  Comus;  nine- 
teen imported  brood  mares;  one  native;  and  thirty-one 
head  under  two  years  of  age.  These  importations  had  been 
selected  by  Richard  Tattersall  to  meet  the  long-distance 
requirements  of  horses  in  this  country,  Boardman's  idea 
being  to  save  to  American  breeders  the  time  and  money 
necessary  to  go  to  England  for  stock. 

All  of  his  horses  came  from  noted  English  studs  — 
among  others  the  Royal  stud  at  Hampton  Court,  Lord 
Chesterfield's,  the  Duke  of  Grafton's  and  Sir  Thomas 
Stanley's.  "  It  is  the  only  establishment  of  its  kind  in  the 
United  States,"  wrote  the  Editor  of  The  Spirit  of  the 
Times,"  and  it  is  conducted  upon  a  scale  so  grand,  both  in 
regard  to  the  extent  and  the  quality  and  value  of  its  stock, 
as  to  rival  the  most  celebrated  studs  in  England." 

Samuel  Ragland  and  Nicholas  Davis  had  stables  of 
fine  racers  and  took  many  purses  on  Tennessee  tracks. 

Another  successful  horseman  near  Huntsville  was  John 
Connolly.  Connolly,  and  E.  H.  and  John  Boardman, 
like  thousands  of  other  "Southern"  men  of  their  time, 
were  of  Northern  birth.  The  Boardmans,  natives  of 
Connecticut  or  New  York,  and  Connolly,  a  native  of 


128      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Pennsylvania,  joined  the  long  procession  of  Northern 
emigrants  attracted  to  the  South  during  the  cotton 
"boom"  days  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century.  All 
three  of  these  men  became  leading  citizens  in  North 
Alabama. 

From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that  many  men  of 
eminence,  who  left  untarnished  memories,  had  a  very 
warm  appreciation  of  the  "diamonds  of  the  desert"; 
and  although  many  of  them  did  not  race  their  horses, 
they  helped  to  give  a  strong,  aggressive  force  and  vitality 
to  "the  manly  and  gentlemanly  amusement,  the  sports 
of  the  turf."  ' 


CHAPTER  VIII 
GETTING  THEIR  MONEY  BACK 

PRIOR  to  1840  race  tracks  were  established  and  main- 
tained —  practically  all  of  them  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  regularly  organized  Jockey  Clubs  —  at  Madisonville, 
Beans  Station  and  Red  Bridge  near  Knoxville,  in  East 
Tennessee;  McMinnville,  Winchester,  Murfreesboro, 
Hartsville,  Gallatin,  Clarksville,  Franklin,  Pulaski,  Mt. 
Pleasant,  Shelbyville,  Fayetteville,  Petersburg  and  Nash- 
ville in  Middle  Tennessee;  Paris,  Dresden,  Jackson, 
Bolivar,  Somerville,  La  Grange  and  Memphis  in  West 
Tennessee.  This  list  is  not  given  as  complete.  The 
Dresden  "Social  Course,"  fenced  in  on  all  sides,  was 
situated  a  mile  and  a  half  from  town  and  was  owned  by 
Willis  Nailing.  The  first  meeting  was  held  in  September, 
1838. 

In  September,  1839,  a  dub  was  organized  at  Columbia 
with  Gen.  Allen  Brown,  President,  Dr.  A.  H.  Buchanan, 
Rufus  K.  Polk  and  Evan  Young,  Vice-Presidents  and 
Felix  K.  ZoIIicoffer  (later  a  Confederate  General)  Secre- 
tary. The  course  was  named  the  "Ashland  Course"  and 
was  placed  under  the  supervision  of  William  R.  Hill. 

Besides  tracks  located  in  the  various  county  seats  and 
other  towns,  where  stated  meetings  were  held  at  regular 
intervals,  there  were  tracks  of  a  more  local  nature  on 
which  horses  were  trained  and  races  run  at  the  pleasure 
of  the  owners  or  the  neighborhood. 


130      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Clover  Bottom,  Gallatin  and  Nashville  each  had  a 
Jockey  Club  as  early  as  1807.  Col.  Edward  Ward 
was  President  of  the  Clover  Bottom  Club  in  the  year 
named.  In  1808  a  three  days  meeting  was  held  at  Fair- 
field,  Rutherford  County.  At  the  Bledsoe  Creek  track 
in  1820,  Col.  George  Elliott's  BLACK  SOPHIA  distanced 
Gen.  Desha's  Pacolet  mare;  three  of  Truxton's  get, 
owned  respectively  by  Col.  Weathered,  Maj.  Lauder- 
dale  and  Gen.  Winchester  and  Col.  Winn's  mare  by 
Ragland's  Diomed.  At  Mansker's  Creek,  in  1820,  Mr. 
McGavock's  Pacolet  mare  distanced  five  competitors 
in  the  first  heat.  At  Fayetteville,  in  1820,  there  were 
five  entries  at  $100  each.  In  Wilson  County,  in  1820, 
Black  Sophia  beat  Col.  Ed  Ward's  CEDAR  SNAG  in  a  match 
race  for  $500  a  side. 

In  recounting  the  performances  of  Timoleon's  get,  in 
an  advertisement  in  February,  1829,  David  Dancy  refers 
to  a  two  days  meeting  held  by  the  Fayetteville  Jockey 
Club,  a  two  days  meeting  at  Pulaski  and  a  meeting  at 
Shelbyville. 

In  April,  1829  there  was  a  two  days  race  meeting  at 
Franklin  at  which  horses  ran  owned  by  Messrs.  Cash, 
Olmstead,  Perkins  and  Southall. 

At  Gallatin,  in  1 826,  there  was  a  Jockey  Club  of  which 
Reuben  Cage  was  President.  In  September,  1829  there 
was  ten  days  racing  at  Gallatin.  In  October,  1829  the 
Pulaski  Jockey  Club,  of  which  John  L.  Smith  was  Secre- 
tary, held  a  two  days  meeting. 

In  1829  Jesse  Luton,  backed  by  endorsements  of  John 
McGavock,  Thomas  Alderson,  Robert  Orr,  L.  P.  Cheat- 
ham,  D.  W.  Sumner,  William  Hinton,  Col.  Robert  Smith, 
Henry  Wade  and  others,  as  witnesses  to  his  skill  as  a 
trainer,  started  a  training  track  at  Franklin.  Later  Col. 
Thomas  Watson,  one  of  the  most  skilful  trainers  of  that 


IMP  LEVIATHAN 


IMP  GLENCOE 


Getting  Their  Money  Back  131 

period,  also  had  a  training  establishment  at  Franklin 
and  trained  horses  for  the  leading  sportsmen  of  Ten- 
nessee and  other  states  south  of  it. 

EARLY  DAY  NASHVILLE  MEETINGS 

Among  those  who  ran  horses  at  the  Nashville  meetings 
between  1825  and  1832  were  O.  Shelby,  Thomas  Foxhall, 
George  Elliott,  Arthur  Cotton,  Capt.  Donelson,  Gen. 
Robert  Desha,  -  -  Bledsoe,  J.  W.  Clay,  Mr.  Cheatham, 
Mr.  Beasley,  W.  C.  Davis,  proprietor  of  the  track,  Col. 
J.  W.  Camp,  A.  B.  Shelby,  Major  Bibb,  S.  J.  Carter,  Mr. 
McEwen,  Mr.  Rudd,  Mr.  Olmstead,  Mr.  Tompkins. 

The  officers  of  the  Nashville  Jockey  Club  in  1829  were: 
Judges,  John  Harding,  Solomon  Clark,  Francis  Mc- 
Gavock,  Thomas  D.  McNairy  and  Thomas  Martin; 
Timers,  Gen.  Robert  Desha,  Gov.  William  Carroll  and 
William  Temple. 

In  October,  1830  the  officers  were  John  Harding,  Presi- 
dent; Dr.  McNairy  and  Duke  W.  Sumner,  Judges;  Gov. 
William  Carroll,  J.  Horton  and  E.  Wilborn,  Timers; 
Judge  Phillips  and  Maj.  Marshal,  Distance  Judges; 
Messrs.  Maxey,  Earthman  and  Brown,  Stewards;  Messrs. 
G.  Harding,  Ewing,  Stratton  and  Higgins,  Patrol.  In 
1826  Frank  McGavock  was  Secretary  of  the  Nashville 
Jockey  Club.  In  1829  William  Williams  signed  himself 
"Reporter  to  the  Club";  in  1830  he  was  temporary 
Secretary  and  then  Secretary.  The  Nashville  track  was 
then  "on  a  bottom  below  town  on  the  Cumberland" 
—  near  the  end  of  the  present  Jefferson  street. 

In  The  Turf  Register  of  May,  1831,  "A  Western  Sub- 
scriber" wrote  of  the  Nashville  track: 

"The  half  of  the  track,  next  the  river,  is  alluvial,  and,  of  course, 
deep  sand;  the  other  half  is  a  sweet-gum  flat,  and,  from  the  nature 
of  such  soil,  very  hard,  when  dry,  and  very  tough,  when  wet;  and 


132      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

the  whole  nearly  level,  and  is  considered  unfavorable  to  good  time. 
The  same  horses  run  quicker  at  Gallatin,  and  other  Tennessee 
courses,  by  2  or  3  seconds  in  the  mile. 

"The  buildings,  on  the  course,  are  a  mansion  house,  large  enough 
to  accommodate  the  gentlemen  of  the  turf,  a  dining-room  about 
100  feet  long,  a  stage  of  the  same  length,  a  stage  for  the  judges,  and 
stables,  with  about  40  stalls,  painted  white.  The  course  affords  a 
good  prospect  of  the  Cumberland  river,  the  new  bridge,  and  the  new 
state  house;  and  the  town  of  Nashville,  or,  as  some  of  our  editors 
have  brevetted  it,  the  city,  is  seen  to  prominent  advantage.  College 
hill  fills  up  the  more  distant  view." 

RACE  WINNINGS  FOR  BIBLES 

In  October,  1829  at  Nashville,  W.  C.  Davis*  POLLY 
POWELL,  by  Virginian,  dam  by  imp  Sir  Harry,  won  two 
races.  A  few  days  later  one  Alpha  Kingsley  wrote  Davis 
"hearty  congratulations"  on  his  "successes  during  the 
last  week's  sport"  and  asked  him  to  "constitute"  him- 
self a  member  of  the  American  Bible  Society  by  making 
a  "contribution  of  thirty  dollars." 

This  "memorial"  was  backed  up  by  a  petition  signed 
by  John  Harding,  Duke  W.  Sumner,  and  Solomon  Clark, 
who  told  Davis  that  "our  confidence  in  your  well-known 
liberality  induces  us  to  believe  that  you  will  not  only 
take  a  pride  but  a  pleasure  in  the  above  suggested  dona- 
tion." 

In  sending  in  the  thirty  dollars  Davis  wrote: 

"Although  devoted  to  the  sports  of  the  turf  I  trust  I  am  not  in- 
sensible to  the  great  and  important  necessity  of  religion;  and  that 
I  will  give  no  cause  of  reproach  to  the  Society  of  which  I  now  become 
a  member,  whilst  I  pursue  an  honorable  and  upright  course  in  the 
pursuit  of  these  amusements. 

"And  believing,  as  I  do,  that  nothing  tends  more  to  the  improve- 
ment of  the  moral  condition  of  man  than  the  general  and  universal 
dissemination  of  the  Word  of  God,  I  cannot  but  wish  success  to  your 
efforts  and  remain  your  Obt.  Servant, 

"WM.  C.  DAVIS." 


Getting  Their  Money  Back  133 


MEETINGS  IN  SEVERAL  COUNTIES 

At  the  Mt.  Pleasant  race  track  in  November,  1831, 
horses  were  run  by  Willis  H.  Boddie,  Mr.  Coxe,  Mr. 
Shegogg,  H.  Davis,  George  Elliott,  Gen.  R.  Desha,  Mr. 

Neely,  Thomas  Northern, Goodrum.    Wesley  Nixon 

was  Secretary. 

At  the  Woodlawn  Course,  i|  miles  from  Clarksville, 
on  the  river,  in  September,  1831,  horses  were  run  by 
Joseph  Rudd,  George  B.  Nelson,  George  W.  Cheatham, 
Arthur  Cotton,  H.  C.  Bell  and  W.  R.  Gilbert. 

The  list  of  entries  at  the  Hurricane  Hill  (Murfreesboro) 
meetings  of  1831  and  1832  show  that  horses  were  run  by 
B.  Johnson,  P.  J.  Burrus,  Col.  Robert  Smith,  HoIIon 
Davis,  O.  Shelby,  L.  L.  Davis,  H.  S.  Wilkinson,  R.  Mor- 
gan, James  Morton,  John  Crow,  E.  Sparks,  J.  B.  Carter, 
W.  Campbell,  Mr.  Gowen.  G.  S.  Crockett  was  Secretary 
of  the  Jockey  Club. 

Lists  of  entries  at  Franklin  in  1831  and  1832  show  horses 
run  by  Beverly  Reese,  Gen.  R.  Desha,  Haman  Critz, 
S.  D.  Sharp,  A.  Rankin,  HoIIon  Davis,  W.  B.  Peebles, 
Joel  G.  Childress,  George  Elliott,  N.  Davis,  John  Crow, 
J.  W.  Camp,  William  Whitfield,  Daniel  P.  Perkins. 

Lists  of  entries  at  the  Clover  Hill  Course,  Winchester, 
1832,  1833  show  that  horses  were  run  by  Maj.  Richard 
Sharp,  M.  S.  Wagner,  O.  C.  Woods,  M.  J.  Goodwin, 
Maj.  John  G.  Bostick,  Col.  C.  B.  HoIIingsworth,  H. 
Bledsoe,  R.  H.  Oliver,  P.  J.  Curie,  Maj.  William  Robinson, 
Turner  B.  Henley,  J.  A.  Jenkins.  E.  Eaves  was  Secretary. 

Lists  of  entries  at  Paris  in  1832  and  1833  show  that 
horses  were  run  by  J.  C.  Hamilton,  Col.  H.  Harris,  Col. 
W.  B.  Miller,  John  W.  Cooke,  Col.  Henry  Wright,  Col. 
Robert  Searcy,  Gen.  G.  W.  Terrill,  Capt.  Benjamin 


134      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

BIythe,  Dr.  W.  J.  DeWitt,  George  W.  Mix.  F.  T. 
Reid  was  Secretary. 

Lists  of  entries  at  Jackson,  1830  and  1832,  show  that 
horses  were  run  by  Col.  Wright,  Maj.  Martin,  Col.  Miller, 
Col.  Cotton,  Mr.  Newsom,  G.  W.  Cheatham,  B.  H.  Slater, 
Dr.  Thomas  Rivers,  Dr.  W.  E.  Butler,  Abner  Pillow,  R. 
Pryor. 

Race  meetings  known  to  have  been  held,  but  from  which 
no  reports  were  made  to  The  Spirit  of  the  Times  or  The 
Turf  Register,  were  those  at  Dresden,  Paris  and  La  Grange, 
in  1838  and  at  Petersburg  in  1839. 

Having  shown  the  character  and  performances  of  the 
leading  horses  in  England,  Virginia  and  Tennessee,  from 
whom  came  the  Tennessee  horses  of  the  gala-day  period, 
it  will  be  of  interest  to  see  how  these  scions  of  noble 
ancestors  acquitted  themselves  on  Tennessee  tracks. 

Following  are  official  reports  (condensed)  of  race  meet- 
ings held  in  Tennessee,  1836-39  inclusive,  as  reported 
to  The  Spirit  oj  the  Times  and  The  Turf  Register. 

The  rule  as  to  weights  on  tracks  in  Tennessee  and  other 
states  to  the  south  were  usually  the  same  as  those  adopted 
by  the  Nashville  Jockey  Club,  as  follows: 

2-year-olds,  70  Ibs.;  3-year-olds,  86  Ibs.;  4-year-olds, 
100  Ibs.;  5-year-olds,  no  Ibs.;  6-year-olds,  118  Ibs.; 
aged  124  Ibs.;  with  an  allowance  of  3  Ibs.  to  mares  and 
geldings. 

In  the  following  reports,  where  a  horse  was  run  by  one 
person  and  owned  by  another,  the  name  of  the  owner 
is  placed  in  parentheses  after  the  name  of  the  person 
making  the  entry. 

HARTSVILLE  JOCKEY  CLUB 

At  the  Hartsville  Jockey  Club  meeting,  September,  1836  —  Harts- 
ville  was  then  in  Sumner  County  —  there  were  four  races,  eighteen 
entries,  by  Capt.  Jesse  Haynie,  Alex  Yourie,  Thomas  Barry,  Rich- 


Getting  Their  Money  Back  135 

ard  Hall  of  Sumner,  Col.  Robert  Smith  of  Murfreesboro,  Col.  R. 
Burford  of  Dixon  Springs,  John  Coplinger  and  others. 

WINNERS — (i)  Sweepstake,  3-year-olds,  mile  heats,  sub.  "a 
bale  of  cotton,"  8  subs,  two  running  —  Thomas  Barry's  gr.  c.  by 
Sir  Henry  Tonson;  time  not  recorded  but  "pretty  bang  up." 

(2)  P.  $430,  3-mile  heats,  four  running  —  FANNY  BELL;  time  6: 42- 
6:13. 

(3)  P.  $250,  2-mile  heats,  two  running  —  Yourie's  b.  c.  by  Bert- 
rand,  dam  by  Whip,  3  yrs.;   time  4:01^  —  4:01  — 4:12. 

(4)  P.  $200,  mile  heats,  four  running  —  Burford's  ch.  h.  by  Stock- 
holder, out  of  Patty  Puff  by  Pacolet,  5  yrs.;    time  1:54 —  1:57  — 
1:59. 

At  the  Hartsville  meeting,  October,  1837  there  were  13  entries 
owned  by  Richard  A.  Hall,  Woods  S.  Miller,  John  Coplinger,  Maj. 
W.  L.  Alexander,  Thomas  Barry,  Watson  &  Rutherford,  Elliott  & 
Jackson,  Cyrus  Hart,  James  Jackson. 

James  Jackson's  entry,  SARAH  BLADEN,  "walked  over"  in  a  sweep- 
stake, 13  entries,  $100  each,  2-mile  heats.  Elliott  &  Jackson's 
EXOTIC  by  Leviathan,  dam  imp  Refugee  by  Wanderer,  3  years, 
won  a  sweepstake,  12  subs,  at  $500  each,  h.  f.,  three  running,  2-mile 
heats. 

Other  winners  were:  Miller's  HARPALYCE,  Foster  Doak's  (or  Dake's) 
colt  by  Leviathan,  dam  by  Conqueror,  and  Hall's  gelding  by  Jeffer- 
son, dam  by  Conqueror. 

GALLATIN  JOCKEY  CLUB 

In  the  years  1836-7-8-9  the  Gallatin  Jockey  Club  held  six  meet- 
ings at  one  or  more  of  which  entries  were  run  by  W.  W.  Gift  of 
Raleigh,  North  Carolina,  John  C.  Beasley  of  Louisiana,  Samuel 
Ragland,  James  Jackson,  Col.  Robert  Smith,  Col.  Thomas  Watson 
of  Franklin;  Hon.  A.  J.  Donelson,  David  Burford,  W.  L.  Alexander 
and  A.  Alexander  of  Smith  or  Sumner;  Jo  C.  Guild,  A.  P.  Yourie, 
Smith  C.  Franklin,  Balie  Peyton,  Capt.  Jesse  Haynie,  Maj.  George 
A.  Wyllie,  Jesse  Cage,  G.  W.  Parker,  B.  F.  Simpson,  Charles 
Lewis,  John  Malone,  Richard  Hall,  William  Covington,  C.  Cantrell, 
Arthur  Cotton,  Woods  S.  Miller,  Yourie  &  Head,  Thomas  Barry, 
George  Elliott,  Green  Berry  Williams,  and  W.  E.  Douglass,  all  of 
Sumner;  John  G.  Turner,  Thompson  &  French,  Head  &  Smith, 
Ben  Rutherford  and  W.  H.  Wilkinson.  Head  &  Smith's  entry, 
DAY  DREAM,  by  Luzborough,  dam  by  Sir  Archy,  was  owned  by  Hon. 
M.  P.  Gentry. 


136      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

At  the  first  meeting  September,  1836,  —  four  days,  four  races,  — 
there  were  13  entries.  The  winners  were  Jesse  Haynie's  FANNY  BELL; 
Beasley's  OTHELLO  by  Leviathan,  dam  by  Sir  Archy;  Jackson's 
WAXLIGHT  by  Leviathan,  dam  Pigeon  by  Pacolet,  and  FANNY  BELL 
again.  Waxlight's  race  was  a  4-mile  heat  race  for  J.  C.  P.  $750. 

At  the  second  meeting  (Sept.  22-25  inclusive),  1837,  there  were 
five  races  and  19  entries.  The  winners  were:  Burford's  CITIZEN, 
by  Stockholder,  dam  Patty  Puff;  Jesse  Cage's  gray  filly  by  Levia- 
than dam  by  Pacolet;  Jesse  Cage's  THE  PONEY;  Ragland's  QUEEN 
OF  DIAMONDS  by  Leviathan,  dam  by  Sir  Archy;  and  Ragland's 
OTHELLO  by  Leviathan,  dam  by  Sir  Archy.  The  highest  purse, 
$700,  was  won  by  The  Poney,  3-mile  heats;  time  6:17  —  6:05  — 
6: 10.  There  were  five  entries.  The  race  was  "severely  contested, 
affording  much  sport;  betting  pretty  severe  after  first  heat."  The 
race  won  by  Othello  was  a  4-mile  race  for  a  $600  purse.  Nature  of 
soil  "prohibited"  good  time.  The  Spirit  gave  this  meeting  a  "write 
up"  of  900  words. 

At  the  third  meeting,  Sept.  17-22,  1838,  there  were  seven  races  and 
21  entries.  The  winners  were  Guild's  DOCTOR  DUNCAN  (later  JOHN 
MALONE);  A.  P.  Yourie's  filly  by  Crusader;  Jesse  Cage's  QUEEN  OF 
TRUMPS;  James  Jackson's  EXOTIC;  Thomas  Watson's  SHERIDAN 
(later  OSCEOLA),  by  Pacific  dam  by  O.  H.  Perry;  Thomas  Watson's 
QUEEN  OF  TRUMPS;  A.  P.  Yourie's  ch.  g.  by  Crusader,  dam  by 
Stockholder. 

The  first  race,  won  by  Queen  of  Trumps,  was  a  sweepstake,  3- 
year-olds,  19  subs,  at  $100  each,  h.  f.,  five  running,  2-mile  heats; 
time  4: 03  —  3: 56.  The  Queen's  second  victory  was  a  race  of  4-mile 
heats  for  J.  C.  P.  $600;  time  8: 12  —  8:43.  Yourie's  gelding  ran  a 
mile  in  1:58,  over  a  track  4  to  8  inches  deep  in  dust  after  a  four 
months'  drouth. 

At  the  fourth  meeting,  May  21-24,  1839,  only  ten  horses  ran. 
The  winners  were:  Col.  Jo  C.  Guild's  JOHN  MALONE;  Guild's  CARO- 
LINE MALONE,  3-year-olds,  by  Leviathan,  dam  by  Sir  Richard  Ton- 
son,  out  of  the  dam  of  Betsey  Malone;  George  Elliott's  BOYD 
MCNAIRY,  and  Green  Berry  Williams'  FLETA,  by  Leviathan,  dam  by 
Clay's  Sir  William.  One-mile  and  2-mile  races  only  were  run. 
The  best  heat,  1 : 49,  was  run  by  Caroline  Malone,  carrying  83  pounds. 

At  the  fifth  meeting,  fall  of  1839,  the  winners  were:  Jesse  Cage's 
MARIA  WILLIAMS,  by  Leviathan,  dam  by  Napoleon;  C.  Cantrell's 


Getting  Their  Money  Back  137 

colt  by  Cantrell's  Leviathan,  dam  by  Bertrand;  John  G.  Turner's 
BETSEY  MILLER  by  Leviathan,  dam  by  Oscar;  Ben  Rutherford's  colt 
by  John  Dawson,  dam  by  Pacolet;  Jesse  Cage's  RAGLAND,  by  Levia- 
than, dam  by  Stockholder,  and  his  gray  colt,  MUD,  by  Leviathan, 
dam  by  Pacolet.  The  best  mile  heat,  1:54,  was  run  by  Betsey 
Miller,  two  years,  carrying  67  pounds.  Highest  "take  down"  $500. 

Officers  of  the  Gallatin  Jockey  Club  in  1837  were:  President, 
Jesse  Cage;  Vice- Presidents,  James  J.  Blackmore  and  Eli  Odum; 
Judges,  Gen.  William  Hall  (ex-Congressman  and  ex-Governor), 
Dr.  Anderson  and  Eli  Odum;  Timers,  Hugh  Kirkman  of  Nashville, 
and  Balie  Peyton;  Secretary,  Thomas  Barry. 

Officers  officiating  at  the  fall  meeting,  1839,  were:  Jesse  Cage, 
President;  Thomas  Barry,  Secretary;  Francis  Wilson,  Treasurer; 
Nicholas  Davis  of  Alabama,  Samuel  Ragland  of  Alabama  and  Dr. 
Blackmore,  Judges;  Thomas  Barry,  Timer. 

NASHVILLE  JOCKEY  CLUB 

Meeting,  October,  1836.  Hinchin  Petway,  President;  L.  P.  Cheat- 
ham,  Secretary  pro  tern;  Judges,  James  Gordon,  Samuel  J.  Carter,  E- 
H.  Boardman,  of  Alabama,  and  L.  P.  Cheatham;  Timers,  Balie 
Peyton  and  Gen.  Robert  Desha.  Six  races;  26  entries;  by 
Stockley  Donelson,  L.  P.  Cheatham,  Arnold  Russell,  George  W. 
Cheatham,  Thomas  A.  Pankey,  Col.  Robert  Smith,  John  C.  Beasley, 
James  Jackson,  John  Crow.  Track  heavy. 

WINNERS — (i)  Sweepstake,  2-year-olds,  one  mile  out,  sub. 
$100,  h.  f.,  four  subs.,  two  running  —  James  Jackson's  (George 
Elliott's)  ch.  SARAH  BLADEN;  time  2:  oo;  won  in  a  canter,  competitor 
being  amiss. 

(2)  P.  $300,  ent.  $120  added,  2-mile  heats,  four  running  —  James 
Jackson's  WAXLIGHT;   time  4:17  —  4:165. 

(3)  P.  $500,  ent.  $80  added,  3-mile  heats,  two  running  —  James 
Jackson's  EXTIO,  by  Leviathan,  dam  White  Feather,  by  Conqueror, 
4  years;   time  6:29  —  6:25.    Hugh  Carlin  of  Alexandria,  Louisiana, 
then  offered  $2,000  for  Extio,  which  was  declined. 

(4)  P.  $700,  ent.  $300  added,  4-mile  heats,  six  running  —  James 
Jackson's  (Kirkman  &  Dickinson's)  b.  c.  WACOUSTA,  by  Leviathan, 
dam  by  Tennessee  Oscar,  4  years;   time  8:13  —  8:12  —  8: 24. 

(5)  Ladies'  Purse  $250,  ent.  $210  added,  mile  heats,  best  3  in  5, 
seven  running  —  John  C.  Beasley 's  (Duke  W.  Sumner's)  b.  HOR- 
TENSIA,  4  years;    time  1:55  —  1:53  —  1:58 — 1:57  i:)54. 


138      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

(6)  Sweepstake,  3-year-olds,  mile  heats,  sub.  $200,  h.  f.,  three 
entries,  two  running  —  John  C.  Beasley's  (Sam  Ragland's)  QUEEN 
OF  DIAMONDS;  time  1:55  —  1:53. 

The  Spirit  of  the  Times  gave  this  meeting  2,500  words.  The 
most  interesting  feature  was  the  hot  fight  between  Wacousta, 
Fanny  Bell  and  Othello,  running  in  the  order  named. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Nashville  Club,  Oct.  2-6,  1837,  the  officers 
were:  President,  H.  Petway;  Judges,  H.  Petway,  John  P.  Hick- 
man,  L.  P.  Cheatham,  Hon.  Alex  Barrow,  Randall  Ewing;  Timers, 
Hon.  Balie  Peyton  and  Thomas  Enbank  Leefe,  special  Southern 
agent  of  The  Spirit  of  the  Times;  Secretary,  Hugh  Kirkman; 
Patrol,  Buck  Maxey,  R.  P.  Estes,  S.  W.  Oilman,  Aris  Brown. 
Seven  races,  34  entries;  by  George  Elliott,  Nicholas  Davis,  L.  P. 
Cheatham,  Andrew  J.  Donelson,  John  Donelson,  Balie  Peyton, 
William  B.  King,  E.  H.  Boardman,  W.  J.  Bass,  G.  Mason,  James 
Jackson,  L.  Bailer,  Stephen  Fenwick,  A.  B.  Newsom,  John  C.  Beasley, 
Stockley  Donelson,  W.  H.  Ghee,  Thomas  A.  Pankey,  A.  L.  Binga- 
mon,  of  Mississippi,  J.  H.  Bradfute,  Samuel  Ragland,  A.  V.  and 
G.  B.  Long,  of  Kentucky,  Randolph  Skinner.  Track  muddy  and 
heavy  all  week. 

The  Congressional  stake,  3-year-olds,  14  subs,  at  $500  each, 
h.  f.,  2-mile  heats,  three  running,  was  won  by  George  Elliott's  SARAH 
BLADEN;  time  4:13  —  4:15.  Other  winners  were  Newsom's  2-year- 
old  filly  (then  unnamed,  later  BEESWING);  J.  H.  Bradfute's  VICTORIA; 
Ragland's  QUEEN  OF  DIAMONDS;  Bradfute's  HARKAWAY,  by  Merlin, 
dam  Isabella  by  Sir  Archy;  Ragland's  OTHELLO  and  G.  B.  Long's 
MARY  JANE  DAVIS,  by  Stockholder,  dam  by  Sir  Archy.  Queen  of 
Diamonds'  victory  was  in  a  race  of  3-mile  heats;  time  6:21  —  6: 20. 
Othello's  race  was  a  4-mile  affair;  time  8: 30  —  8: 29^. 

The  Spirit  of  the  Times  gave  this  meeting  a  brilliant  write-up  of 
3,000  words. 

Nashville  May  meeting,  1838;  six  days;  six  races;  17  entries; 
by  Guild  &  Peyton,  Col.  George  Elliott,  A.  J.  Donelson,  John 
Malone,  S.  W.  Goodrum  (Col.  Thompson),  F.  ZoIIicoffer,  Thomas 
Kirkman,  James  Jackson,  A.  Jackson,  Robert  Hayes,  G.  B.  Wil- 
liams, David  Thompson,  J.  C.  Guild,  Thomas  A.  Pankey.  AH 
the  winners  were  bred  or  owned  (or  both  bred  and  owned)  in 
Sumner  County.  They  were: 

(i)  Guild  &  Peyton's  Leviathan  filly  out  of  Black  Sophia 
(undoubtedly  BEESWING),  3  years,  mile  heats,  best  heat  1:58, 


Getting  Their  Money  Back  139 

(2)  Guild's  VIRGINIA  OVERTON,  by  Leviathan,  dam  by  Virginian, 
4  years,  2-mile  heat  race;  best  heat  4:12.    She  beat  Exotic,  another 
Leviathan  (who  later  made  a  great  reputation  as  a  racer),  the  entry 
of  James  Jackson. 

(3)  John  Malone's  entry  (Guild  &  Peyton's)  CATHERINE  BARRY 
(later  BEESWING),  won  a  mile  heat  race  in  2:05  —  2:04  —  2:06. 

(4)  Colonel  Jesse  Cage's  THE  PONEY,  4  years,  was  run  as  James 
Jackson's  entry  and  won  a  3-mile  heat  race  in  6:44  —  7:03. 

(5)  G.  B.  Williams  won  a  mile  heat  race  with  his  Leviathan  filly, 
dam  by  Sir  William,  in  2 : 02  —  2 : 07. 

(6)  The  principal  event  of  this  meeting,  the  get  of  Leviathan 
vs.  the  get  of  Luzborough,  is  elsewhere  described;   post. 

In  August,  1838  the  Nashville  Club  held  a  four  days  meeting  at 
which  were  five  races  and  19  entries.  • 

Nashville  Fall  Meeting,  Sept.  2Q-Oct.  6,  1838:  President  pro 
tern,  L.  P.  Cheatham;  Secretary,  Hugh  Kirkman;  Treasurer  Thomas 
Gowdey;  Judges,  L.  P.  Cheatham,  L.  J.  Polk,  W.  G.  Harding; 
Distance  Judges,  William  B.  Gowen  and  R.  Ewing;  Patrol,  H. 
Compton,  R.  P.  Estes,  Aris  Brown,  Thomas  Alderson;  Timers, 
Thomas  Eubank  Leefe  and  Henry  Dickinson.  Six  races;  13  entries; 
by  James  Jackson,  Davis  &  Ragland,  Col.  William  Wynn,  of  Vir- 
ginia, W.  J.  Minor  of  Louisiana,  Maj.  W.  R.  Peyton,  Thomas  Barry, 
John  Malone  and  William  Potts.  Except  in  two  other  events,  de- 
scribed elsewhere,  entries  by  Ragland  &  Davis  won  all  the  races. 
Two  of  these  five  winners,  SCIPIO  and  OTHELLO,  were  by  Leviathan, 
two  by  Count  Badger  and  one  by  Luzborough.  Among  the  defeated 
were  John  Matone's  entry,  SHERIDAN  (later  OSCEOLA),  Colonel 
Wynn's  VICTORIA  and  his  MARY  WYNN.  Victoria  was  by  Eclipse, 
dam  Isabella  by  Sir  Archy,  and  Mary  Wynn  was  by  Eclipse,  dam 
Flirtilla  by  Sir  Archy.  Track  muddy  all  week. 

At  the  Nashville  Spring  Meeting,  1839,  beginning  on  May  7,  and 
lasting  five  days,  the  winners  were  A.  J.  Donelson's  colt  by  Mambrino, 
dam  by  Ratler;  Jesse  Cage's  filly  by  Leviathan,  dam  by  Napoleon; 
George  Elliott's  BOYD  MCNAIRY;  also  his  three-year-old  BIRMINGHAM; 
and  Green  Berry  Williams'  FLETA.  This  last  race,  3-mile  heats, 
was  run  against  Capt.  H.  M.  Clay's  GIRAFFE,  by  Luzborough.  It 
was  so  close  and  exciting  that  the  timers  forgot  to  stop  their  watches. 
Owners  of  defeated  horses,  besides  Clay,  were  Thomas  Alderson, 
Mr.  Kirkman,  Arnold  Russell,  Mr.  Peyton,  Samuel  Carter  (Mr.  Beal) 


140      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

and  W.  H.  Carroll.    Thirteen  horses  in  all;  no  purse  exceeding  $500. 
The  best  mile  was  made  by  Birmingham —  1:51^. 

Nashville  Jockey  Club's  First  Fall  Meeting,  Sept.  19-22  and  Oct. 
5,  1839. 

Samuel  Ragland  of  Alabama  and  H.  Petway,  Judges;  L.  P. 
Cheatham  and  John  McNairy,  Distance  Judges;  Nicholas  Davis 
and  T.  E.  Leefe,  Timers;  Hugh  Kirkman,  Secretary. 

Five  races,  17  entries;  by  Breathett  &  Carroll,  Samuel  J. 
Carter,  J.  G.  Shegogg  of  Columbia,  J.  H.  White,  J.  C.  Guild,  Phil 
C.  Shute,  T.  W.  Gilman,  Smith  Criddle,  D.  Pitt,  Davis  &  Rag- 
land,  Robert  Smith,  A.  P.  Yourie  and  W.  W.  Gift. 

Breathett's  &  Carroll's  three  entries  —  two  by  Luzborough  and 
one  by  Merlin  —  Davis  &  Ragland's  Luzborough  filly,  dam  by 
Timoleon;  J.  C.  Guild's  Leviathan  colt  and  S.  J.  Carter's  filly  by 
Russell's  Houston  were  the  winners.  Best  mile  i :  57. 

Second  Fall  Meeting,  Oct.  6-12,   1839. 

President,  L.  P.  Cheatham;  Secretary,  Hugh  Kirkman;  Judges, 
Gen.  W.  G.  Harding,  W.  H.  Boddie  and  H.  Petway;  Distance 
Judges,  John  McNairy  and  Thomas  Alderson;  Timers,  Lucius  J. 
Polk  and  Thomas  E.  Leefe.  J.  B.  and  S.  J.  Carter  were  now  pro- 
prietors of  the  track,  which  was  "fetlock  deep  and  fast  time  im- 
possible." 

Eight  races;  28  entries;  by  Charles  Bosley,  W.  G.  Harding, 
Wilson  &  Nichol,  Thomas  Gale,  W.  W.  Gift  (J.  Scott),  L.  Leavell, 
Ragland  &  Davis,  James  Jackson,  Balie  Peyton,  J.  Anderson,  G. 
W.  Cheatham,  H.  Petway  (James  Hagan),  L.  P.  Cheatham,  Thomas 
Watson  (L.  Leavell),  G.  W.  Cheatham  (W.  R.  Peyton),  L.  J.  Polk, 
Nicholas  Davis,  J.  G.  Shegogg,  Col.  Robert  Smith,  Jesse  Cage,  A. 
J.  Donelson,  L.  P.  Cheatham  (James  Long  of  Washington,  D.C.). 

(1)  Charles  Bosley's  (W.  G.  Harding's)  gr.  c.  GAMMA,  by  Pacific, 
out  of  Madam  Bosley  by  Sir  Richard  Tonson,  won  a  2-mile  heat  race 
in  4:04  —  4:  n. 

(2)  W.  W.  Gift's  GOVERNOR  POiNDEXTER,  by  Leviathan,  out  of 
the  dam  of  Giantess,  won  a  3-year  old  sweepstake  worth  $5,400, 
2-mile  heats,  5  competitors;   time  3:555 —  3:57  —  4:06. 

(3)  George  W.  Cheatham's  (Charles  Lewis')  EMILY  SPEED,  by 
Leviathan  dam  by  Pacolet,  won  a  2-mile  heat  race  in  3:58  —  3:56. 

(4)  Cheatham's  MARY  WYNN  won  a  3-mile  heat  race,  J.  C.  P. 
$600,  $30  added,  3-mile  heats;    time  6:12  —  6:08  —  6:18. 

(5)  Jesse  Cage's  MARIA  WILLIAMS,  by  Leviathan,  dam  by  Napo- 


Getting  Their  Money  Back  141 

Icon,  beat  5  competitors  in  a  contest  of  mile  heats,  best  3  in  5; 
time  1:55  —  1:53—  1:53- 

(6)  Robert  Smith's  KINLOCK,  aged,  won  a  match  race,  one  mile, 
in  1:52^. 

(7)  N.  Davis'  Luzborough  colt  beat  Shegogg's  (S.  J.  Carter's) 
Bertrand  filly  in  a  2-mile  heat  race;   time  4:04  —  4:06. 

(8)  The  main  event  of  this  meeting,  the  race  between  PICTON, 
OSCEOLA  and  BOYD  MCNAIRY,  is  described  elsewhere;  post. 

In  the  3-mile  heat  race  won  by  Mary  Wynn,  Thomas  Watson's 
(L.  L.  Leavell's)  Leviathan  colt,  James  Jackson,  won  the  second 
heat,  after  which  he  was  sold  for  $3,000.  Mary  had  won  the  first 
heat  and  won  the  third  and  fourth. 

FRANKLIN  JOCKEY  CLUB 

At  one  or  more  of  the  four  meetings  of  The  Franklin  Jockey  Club 
held,  respectively,  in  Ocotber,  1837,  in  May,  1838,  in  the  fall  of  1838 
and  in  October,  1839,  entries  were  run  by  John  Beach,  John  C. 
Irvine,  David  Pinkston,  B.  F.  Nowlin,  James  H.  Bradfute,  Col. 
Robert  Smith,  Samuel  Ragland,  Thomas  Watson  (T.  J.  Wells), 
George  W.  Skinner,  Col.  William  Wynn,  John  A.  Holland,  A. 
Rodgers,  Philip  Shute,  W.  G.  Harding,  James  Anderson,  R.  Skinner, 
Davis  &  Ragland,  Breathett  and  Carroll,  Thomas  M.  Warren, 
J.  L.  Grainger. 

At  the  first  meeting,  three  days,  three  races,  8  entries,  the  winners 
were:  Beach's  bay  colt  by  Malcolm,  dam  by  Whip  (then  sold  to  Ala- 
bama); Smith's  DANIEL  O'CONNELL;  Bradfute's  VICTORIA,  4  years, 
beat  Ragland's  QUEEN  OF  DIAMONDS,  same  age,  in  a  race  of  3-mile 
heats;  time  5:22%  —  6:00  —  6:07. 

At  the  second  meeting  THE  PONEY  beat  LEILA,  by  Luzborough, 
owned  by  Col.  William  Wynn,  and  BEESWING  beat  MARTHA  WASH- 
INGTON, by  Sir  Charles,  out  of  Isabella  by  Sir  Archy,  owned  by  Colonel 
Wynn  and  run  here  as  entry  of  George  W.  Skinner. 

At  the  third  meeting  (1838)  Col.  William  Wynn  went  out  with 
MARY  WYNN  and  VICTORIA  and  was  given  two  "walk  overs."  In 
the  other  race  his  HARKAWAY,  by  Merlin,  out  of  Isabella,  left  HAIL- 
STORM, by  Stockholder,  dam  by  Conqueror,  "out  in  the  cold";  time 
i :  59.  Highest  purse,  $400 

At  the  fourth  meeting,  six  days,  six  races,  23  entries,  the  winners 
were:  Holland's  colt  by  La  Fayette,  dam  by  Grey  Tail;  Skinner's 


142      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

POLLY  PILLOW,  by  Leviathan,  dam  by  Sir  Archy;  Ragland  &  Davis* 
SIR  JOSEPH  BANKS,  by  imp  Luzborough,  dam  by  Sir  Archy;  Robert 
Smith's  (M.  P.  Gentry's)  DAY  DREAM;  his  PATSEY  DAVIS,  by  Count 
Badger,  dam  by  Timoleon;  and  W.  G.  Harding's  GAMMA.  Patsey 
made  the  best  time,  mile  heats —  1:53 —  1:52  —  2:02.  Largest 
purse,  $400.  No  4-mile  race  was  run. 

The  officers  of  the  Club  in  1837  were:  President,  Henry  Baldwin, 
Jr.;  Vice-President,  James  Swanson;  Secretary,  F.  T.  Reid;  Treas- 
urer, T.  H.  Handy;  Judges,  James  Swanson,  J.  C.  Southall,  Henry 
Baldwin,  Jr.;  Timers,  Hugh  Kirkman,  Samuel  Ragland,  Dr.  S.  S. 
Mayfield. 

In  1839  the  officers  were:  President,  James  Swanson;  Vice- 
President,  M.  Puryear;  Secretary,  Thomas  K.  Handy;  Treasurer, 
M.  Doyle. 

MT.  PLEASANT  JOCKEY  CLUB 

The  race  course  of  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Jockey  Club  was  on  the 
property  of  W.  H.  Boddie  and  was  managed  by  him.  It  was  "de- 
lightfully situated  in  the  centre  of  a  dense  wood  contiguous  to  the 
town  of  Mt.  Pleasant  and  was  thirty  feet  over  a  mile." 

At  one  or  more  of  the  three  meetings  held  there,  respectively,  in 
October,  1836,  October,  1837,  May,  1838,  and  May,  1839,  entries  were 
run  by  W.  H.  Boddie,  L.  J.  Polk,  R.  K.  Polk,  Nimrod  Porter,  William 
Pillow,  James  H.  Webster,  Henry  Smith,  F.  ZoIIicoffer,  all  of  Maury; 
Gen.  J.  A.  Mabry  of  Knoxville;  G.  W.  Parker  of  Sumner;  Duke  W. 
Sumner,  Stockley  Donelson,  William  McCrory,  L.  P.  Cheatham  of 
Davidson;  Col.  Robert  Smith  of  Murfreesboro;  Samuel  Ragland, 
James  Kirkman,  James  H.  Bradfute  and  A.  T.  Nolen,  and  the 
following  named,  most  of  whom,  probably,  lived  in  Maury  and 
Giles:  J.  Sutton,  W.  Lawhorn,  Ben  Greer,  Thomas  Heath,  Dr. 
Roberts,  G.  W.  Garrett,  Thomas  N.  Williams,  John  S.  Willis,  Samuel 
Mitchell,  J.  G.  G.  Garrett,  Thomas  Heitt,  N.  G.  Murphy,  N.  F.  Smith, 
H.  B.  Porter,  William  Thomas,  Thomas  S.  Smith,  Wilkinson  Barnes, 
S.  Newell,  William  G.  Cage,  John  G.  Keeble,  D.  L.  Whitaker,  Thomas 
E.  Ridley,  Thomas  Goodrum,  R.  C.  Whitesides. 

At  the  first  meeting  referred  to  above  Gen.  Allen  Brown  was 
President;  Lucius  J.  Polk,  Vice-President;  H.  A.  Miller,  Secretary; 
Judges,  William  Pillow,  L.  J.  Polk  and  Nimrod  Porter;  Timers^ 
L.  P.  Cheatham  and  J.  J.  Goodrum. 

There  were  six  races  and  22  entries. 


Getting  Their  Money  Back  143 

WINNERS:  (i)  Sweepstake,  free  for  all,  one  mile  out,  sub.  $25,  4 
subs,  two  running  —  Boddie's  b.  f.  WHITE  PINNER,  by  Stockholder^ 
dam  Pinner;  time  2:06. 

(2)  P.  $350,  ent.  added,  4  entries  —  D.  W.  Sumner's  HORTENSIA; 
first  heat  5:57. 

(3)  P.  $200,  ent.  $100  added,  2-mile  heats  for  3-year-olds,  foaled 
and  owned  in  Maury  or  Giles,  with  an  inside  stake  of  $100  each, 
4  entries,  three  running  —  L.  J.  Folk's  ch.  LEZINKA,  by  Leviathan, 
dam  Anvelina  Smith;    time  4:30  —  4:30. 

"This  race  caused  much  excitement  and  the  betting  was  pretty 
severe."  Goodrum's  GRAY  MARIA,  by  Stockholder,  dam  by  Pacolet, 
ran  second;  Henry  Smith's  LOGAN,  by  Pacific,  dam  by  Stockholder, 
being  distanced.  Before  the  race  Lezinka  and  Logan  were  each  in 
turn  the  favorite.  Polk  had  purchased  Lezinka,  when  a  yearling, 
from  Henry  Smith,  for  $500. 

(4)  P.  $250,  $100  ent.  added,  mile  heats  best  3  in  5,  four  running 
—  Henry  Smith's  BLACKLEGS,  by  Stockholder,  dam  by  Pacolet,  4 
years;   time  2:01  — 2:04  —  2:11  — 2:11.     G.  W.  Parker's  DANIEL 
O'CONNELL  ran  second,  Ragland's  QUEEN  OF  DIAMONDS,  third.    This 
was  counted  a  great  race. 

(5)  Sweepstake,  2-year-olds,  one  mile  out,  sub.  $50  h.  f.  and  inside 
stake  of  $50  each,  seven  subs.,  five  running  —  William  McCrory's 
NARCISSA  PARRISH;   time  2:04^. 

(6)  Match,  2  miles  out,  $100  a  side,  play  or  pay,  W.  Bromley's 
gr.  ANTHONY  WAYNE,  by  Jerry,  dam  by  Sir  Peter  Teazle,  4  years, 
beat  J.  Sutton's  ch.  c.  SELIM,  by  Talleyrand,  dam  by  Little  Billy, 
4  years;    time  4:50,  with  ease.     The  Spirit  gave  this  meeting  1,500 
words. 

At  the  second  meeting  of  four  days  Brown,  Polk  and  Miller 
still  held  their  positions  as  President,  Vice- President  and  Secretary, 
respectively;  Timers,  Thomas  Eubank  Leefe  and  R.  M.  Wynne; 
Judges,  John  Dawson,  Colonel  Pillow  and  John  Gordon;  Patrole 
Judges,  Henry  Hunter,  D.  D.  McFall,  John  W.  Clanton  and  F.  ZoIIi- 
coffer;  Distance  Judges,  J.  H.  Webster  and  Evan  Young. 

There  were  five  races  and  25  entries  at  this  meeting.  The  winners 
were:  Henry  Smith's  entry  by  Stockholder,  dam  by  imp  Eagle; 
John  S.  Willis'  filly  by  Industry,  dam  by  Ball's  Florizel;  Henry 
Smith's  NARCISSA  PARRISH;  and  his  BEN  MORGAN,  by  Pacific,  and 
Col.  Robert  Smith's  DANIEL  O'CONNELL.  Best  mile  heat  i :  54  by  Ben 
Morgan.  O'Connell's  race  was  of  3-mile  heats  and  Narcissa  Parrish's 


144      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

of  2-mile  heats.  Prior  to  this,  on  October  12,  at  this  track,  NARCISSA 
PARRISH  won  a  sweepstake  for  3-year-olds,  2-mile  heats,  time  3: 57  — 
3:56—4:10. 

At  the  third  meeting  of  four  days  there  were  six  races  and  20 
entries.  At  the  fourth  meeting  of  three  days  the  track  was  fine  and 
purses  ranged  from  $500  down.  The  winners  were:  Henry  Smith's 
ALLEN  BROWN,  by  Stockholder,  dam  by  imp  Eagle;  R.  C.  White- 
side's  filly,  ALLEGRA,  by  Stockholder,  dam  by  Pacolet;  and  J.  H. 
Webster's  colt,  VOLTAIRE,  by  Leviathan,  dam  by  Bertrand.  Best 
mile  heat  was  run  in  i :  52  by  Whiteside's  3-year-old  filly,  carrying 
86  pounds.  She  won  the  $500  P.  P.  sweepstake  against  four  com- 
petitors. First  heat  1:56. 

CLARKSVILLE  JOCKEY  CLUB 

The  officers  of  the  Clarksville  Jockey  Club  in  1837  were:  William 
S.  White,  President;  Thomas  W.  Barksdale,  Vice-President;  Reuben 
Pollard,  Stephen  Neblett  and  William  S.  White,  Judges;  M.  D. 
Simmons  and  T.  W.  Barksdale,  Distance  Judges;  C.  Cruiseman  and 
E.  A.  Davis,  Timers;  James  C.  Johnson,  Secretary. 

At  one  or  both  of  the  two  meetings  held  respectively  in  September, 
1837  and  September,  1838,  entries  were  run  by  A.  K.  and  L.  L. 
Leavell,  Joshua  Elder,  Wilson  Gilbert,  Dr.  John  C.  Ray,  A.  M. 
McLane,  George  W.  Cheatham,  William  H.  Irby,  William  L.  Alex- 
ander of  Hartsville,  Reynolds  Stark,  H.  H.  Bryan,  C.  Cruiseman, 
Stephen  Neblett,  M.  G.  Gholson,  John  D.  Everett  and  John 
Poindexter. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  two  days  there  were  two  races  and  9 
entries.  The  winners  were: 

(1)  P.  $400,  ent.  $30,  all  ages,  2-mile  heats,  four  contestants  — 
A.  K.  Leavell's  GENERAL  CHEATHAM,  by  Stockholder,  dam  by  Know- 
sley,  5  years;   time  3: 54  —  3: 58. 

(2)  A.  K.  Leavell's  PRINCE  TALLEYRAND,  by  Eclipse,  dam  by  Duroc, 
6  years;   time  2 :  oo  —  i :  59  —  i :  59  —  i :  58. 

At  the  second  meeting  of  four  days  there  were  four  races,  13 
entries. 

(1)  Cheatham's  MARY  CRUISEMAN,  by  Woodpecker,  3  years,  won 
a  2-mile  heat  race  in  3: 52  —  4:05. 

(2)  Alexander's  BETSEY  WATSON,  by  Jefferson,  dam  by  Sir  Henry 
Tonson,  aged,  won  the  free  for  all  sweepstakes,  mile  heats,  best  3 
in  5,  time  i :  50  —  i :  56  —  i :  53. 


Getting  Their  Money  Back  145 

(3)  Cruiseman's  ALBERT  KING,  by  Commodore  Truxton,  dam  by 
Pacolet,  won  the  2-year-old  sweepstake,  $100  subs.  h.  f.  one  mile, 
seven  subs.,  two  running;   time  1:52. 

(4)  Alexander's  EUDORA,  by  Jefferson,  dam  by  Oscar,  "walked 
over"  for  the  citizens  purse  of  $100. 

HURRICANE  HILL  (MURFREESBORO)  MEETINGS 
During  the  meeting  held  at  Maj.  John  Bradley's  race  track, 
Hurricane  Hill,  near  Murfreesboro,  August  30  —  Sept.  2,  1837, 
there  were  seven  races  and  19  entries:  by  Capt.  John  Crow,  Col. 
Robert  Smith,  H.  Hawse  (Howse?),  P.  J.  Burrus,  O.  W.  Crockett, 
N.  C.  Dill,  J.  R.  Head,  of  Mississippi,  John  Robinson,  John  Ken- 
nedy, R.  Pattelo,  Wilson  Kerr.  Purses  ranged  from  $50  to  $300- 
Track  twelve  feet  more  than  a  mile. 

WINNERS:  (i)  Crow's  b.  f.  by  Stockholder  won  the  3-year-old 
sweepstake,  mile  heats;  time  1:57  each  heat. 

(2)  Smith's  SALLY  MCCALL,  by  Leviathan,  dam  by  Tennessee  Oscar, 
3  years,  won  a  2-mile  heat  race  in  4: 10  —  4:  03. 

(3)  Crow's  gr.  h.  by  Washington,  dam  by  Sir  Archy,  6  years, 
won  a  2-mile  heat  race  in  4:08  —  4:00. 

(4)  On  the  same  day  he  won  a  mile  race  in  i :  52  after  which  he 
was  sold  to  J.  R.  Head  for  $3,500. 

(5,  6)  In  two  separate  mile  heat  contests  Smith's  s.  h.  VICKSBURG 
(1:54)  and  Robinson's  SIR  RICHARD,  dam  by  Sir  Archy  (1:59)  were 
the  winners. 

(7)  Pattelo's  gr.  m.  by  Waterloo,  dam  by  Pacolet,  6  years,  beat 
Kerr's  b.  f.  by  Tom  Jefferson,  dam  by  Stockholder,  4  years,  in  a  single 
mile  race;  time  2:10. 

At  the  August  meeting,  1838,  at  this  track  five  races  were  run 
in  dust  4  to  8  inches  deep. 

MCMINNVILLE  RACE  MEETING 

October  17-20,  1837;  four  races  —  entries  by  P.  Hoodenpyle, 
B.  C.  Thomas,  J.  M.  Bragg,  F.  A.  Henry  (Patre),  A.  Clark, 
J.  Wilcher,  W.  R.  Stewart,  Thomas  &  French.  Mile  and  2-mile 
heats  were  run.  Best  mile  heat  i :  57.  Two-mile  time  4:10  —  4:  oo. 
The  winners  were  Hoodenpyle's  colt  by  O' Kelly,  dam  by  Black 
Sutton;  Henry's  (Patre's)  colt  by  Kosciusko  dam  by  Potomac; 
Henry's  (Patre's)  SPORTSMAN,  by  Brunswick,  dam  by  Hamlintonian 
(or  Hambletonian)  and  Henry's  (J.  H.  Jenkins')  Leviathan  mare.  In 
addition  to  these  there  were  many  trotting  and  saddle  horse  contests. 


146      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

JACKSON  JOCKEY  CLUB 

The  Jackson  Jockey  Club  (Western  District  Central  Course) 
had  a  meeting  Sept.  26-Oct.  i,  inclusive,  1836,  and  another  meeting 
on  the  same  dates  in  1837.  Those  who  had  entries  in  one  or  both  of 
these  meetings  were  W.  W.  Hurt,  Dr.  G.  Bowles,  Thomas  Haile, 
Dr.  Goodge,  Mr.  McFenner,  John  Timms,  B.  Lyons,  H.  Harris, 
B.  Davidson,  L.  Coch,  Mr.  Sparks. 

At  the  first  meeting  there  were  seven  races  and  25  entries.  Harris, 
f.  OBEINA,  by  Telegraph,  dam  by  Bagdad,  4  years,  won  a  4-mile 
heat  race  for  a  purse  of  $500,  time  8:17  —  8:30.  She  was  then  sold 
to  an  Indiana  man  for  $3,250. 

Hurt's  MILO,  by  Benehan's  Archy,  dam  by  Royalist;  Bowies' 
filly  by  Sir  Charles,  dam  by  Sir  Alfred;  Hurt's  SHYLOCK,  by  Medley, 
dam  by  Powhatan,  and  his  TWILIGHT,  by  Sir  Charles,  dam  by  Aris- 
totle, were  other  winners.  A  3-mile  heat  race  for  J.  C.  P.  $400  was 
won  by  Hurt's  STERLING,  by  Sir  Charles,  dam  by  Powhatan. 

At  the  second  meeting  there  were  five  races  and  14  entries.  The 
winners  were  Hurt's  MILO;  Davidson's  SELIMA,  by  Sir  Charles, 
dam  by  Sir  Alfred;  Coch's  SHYLOCK,  Hurt's  STERLING  and  Spark's 
(Bond's)  MARY  BOND,  by  Pacific,  dam  by  Timoleon.  STERLING'S  race 
was  of  4-mile  heats  in  the  rain  and  mud;  time  9: 30. 

BOLIVAR  JOCKEY  CLUB 

October  12-13,  1836.  Three  races,  9  entries;  by  W.  W.  Hurt,  B. 
Davidson,  and  another. 

WINNERS:  (i)  P.  $400,  ent.  $40  added,  3-mile  heats,  three  run- 
ning —  Hurt's  SHYLOCK;  time  5 : 55. 

(2)  Prop's  P.  $250,  ent.  $30  added,  2-mile  heats,  two  running  — 
Davidson's  JANE  PHILLIPS,  by  Gohanna,  dam  by  Wonder,  5  years; 
time  4:  oo  —  4:10. 

(3)  Handicap  Purse,  $200,  ent.  $10  added,  mile  heats,  four  run- 
ning —  Hurt's  TWILIGHT  distanced  the  field,  time  1:51. 

SOMERVILLE    RACE    MEETING 

June  1 8-2 1,  1838.     Four  races. 

(i)  A.  J.  Henry's  MARIA  MILLER,  by  Stockholder,  dam  by  Madison* 
4  years,  beat  L.  Coch's  MILO,  4  years,  in  a  match  race  for  $100  a 
side;  time  3:50  —  3:53. 


Getting  Their  Money  Back  147 

(2)  Sweepstake    3-year-olds,    3    subs,    at    $200   each  —  Henry's 
TOM  BENTON,  by  Telegraph,  dam  by  Pacolet,  beat  L.  Coch's  SELIM, 
by   Saxe  Weimer  and   Davidson   &   Gowen's  colt  by    Telegraph, 
dam  by  imp  Buzzard;    time  1:54 —  1:555. 

(3)  MILO  beat  Davidson's  HANNIBAL,  by  O'Kelly,  dam  by  Sir 
Charles,  3  years,  in  a  2-mile  heat  race  for  a  $200  purse. 

(4)  MARIA  MILLER  "walked  over"  a  3-mile  heat,  getting  $250  for 

her  trouble. 

MEMPHIS  JOCKEY  CLUB 

In  1836,  Oct.  3i-Nov.  4,  a  race  meeting  was  held  at  Memphis 
at  which  there  were  five  races;  10  entries  owned  by  G.  Bowles, 
Mr.  Lyons,  W.  W.  Hurt,  Mr.  Bumpass,  Mr.  Pitcher,  and  H.  Harris. 
Among  the  races  was  a  match,  $  1,000  a  side  between  Hurt's  KIN- 
LOCK,  by  Havoc,  dam  by  Conqueror,  4  years,  and  Pitcher's  ch.  f.  by 
Sir  Charles,  dam  by  Sir  Alfred,  3  years;  won  by  KINLOCK,  time 
1:59—1:56. 

(1)  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Memphis  Jockey  Club,  Nov.  7-12, 
1837,  the  judges  each  day  were  Maj.  J.  Cotton,  President;   Maj- 
E.  Hickman,  Vice- President,  and  P.  G.  Gaines.    No  purse  more  than 
$500.     Nineteen  entries.    The  winner  in  the  mile  race  was  Y.  N. 
Oliver's  (of  New  Orleans)  JOE  KEARNEY,  by  Medley,  out  of  Kate 
Kearney,  by  Sir  Archy,  4  years.    He  beat  DANIEL  O'CONNELL  and 
two  others;    time  1:58  —  2:01. 

(2)  Oliver's  MARY  JONES,  by  imp  Barefoot,  dam  by  Eclipse,  4 
years,  won  the  2-mile  heat  race;   Robert  Smith's  SALLY  MCCALL 
second;   L.  Coch's  MARY  BOND,  third;   time  1:58  —  2:01. 

(3)  The  3-mile  race  went  to  L.  Coch's  STERLING,  6  years,  time 
6: 23  —  6: 20  —  6: 20. 

(4)  William  Burton's  SELIMA,  by  Sir  Charles,  dam  by  Sir  Alfred, 
4  years,  won  the  4-mile  heat  race;   time  9:01  — 9:00. 

(5)  In  the  mile  heat  race,  best  3  in  5,  Oliver's  MARY  JONES  won 
each  heat;    time  2:07  —  2:05  —  2:05.     Last  two  races,  track  very 
muddy. 

Owners  of  defeated  horses  were  Col.  Robert  Smith,  B.  Davidson 
W.  W.  Hurt,  L.  Coch,  John   Frost   of  St.   Louis,   Missouri,    and 
J.  R.  McKee. 

Another  correspondent  reported  that  Capt.  Oliver  had  "found 
the  soft  place  he  was  in  search  of."  Also  that  this  was  "the  first 
meeting  of  the  Club"  and  the  track  "an  entirely  new  one"  by  a 
never  failing  big  spring.  "The  citizens  and  everybody  appeared 
to  be  in  the  spirit  of  racing." 


148      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Memphis  he  considered  the  ideal  "great  central  place  of  meeting 
of  all  horses  from  Alabama,  Missouri,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Illi- 
nois and  all  the  lower  country.  Those  who  cannot  travel  here  at 
all  seasons  of  the  year  by  steam,  have  as  good  roads  as  need  be,  and 
not  more  than  two  hundred  and  forty  miles  to  travel  by  land,  which 
they  can  do  at  the  rate  of  twenty  miles  per  day,  and  lodge  their 
horses  comfortably  every  night.  ...  In  traveling  to  the  lower 
country  this  place  lies  in  the  route  of  all  sportsmen  passing  with 
their  horses.  By  next  season  they  will  find  as  good  a  track  as  ever 
was  run  over,  with  T.  G.  Johnson,  proprietor  .  .  .  and  here  you 
will  find  as  jolly  a  set  of  good  fellows  as  ever  you  may  meet  with  on 
any  race  track." 

And  so  they  are  in  1916. 

BEAN'S  STATION  AND  RED  BRIDGE 

Reports  of  race  meetings  held  at  Bean's  Station  in  1836,  1837, 
and  1839;  and  at  Red  Bridge,  near  Knoxville,  in  1841,  show  entries 
run  by  John  McGhee,  James  Clark,  John  Blevins,  Daniel  Carmichael, 
Cox  &  Morrison,  Col.  Samuel  Bunch,  William  S.  Geers,  Daniel 
Green,  Capt.  John  B.  Proffit,  James  Scruggs,  George  Routledge, 
Mr.  Guthrie,  James  M.  Hord,  James  Powell,  Capt.  J.  H.  Anderson, 
Clark  &  Bowen.  In  the  list  of  entries  is  noticed,  among  others,  the 
get  of  Cock  of  the  Rock,  Wild  Bill,  Leviathan,  and  Bertrand.  At 
one  meeting  at  Bean's  Station,  out  of  eleven  horses  that  ran  six  were 
Leviathans  and  four  of  the  six  won.  No  purse  exceeded  $500.  A 
match  race  for  $1,500  a  side  was  billed  for  Nov.  15,  1837  between 
CarmichaeFs  LADY  HOLSTON,  by  Bertrand,  and  Colonel  Powell's 
ANN  BARROW,  by  Thomas  Barry's  Cock  of  the  Rock.  James 
Scruggs  was  Secretary  of  the  Bean's  Station  Club. 


STORIES  OF  EIGHT  FAMOUS  RACES 


AMERICAN  ECLIPSE  vs.  HENRY 

The  first  North  and  South  match,  which  started  a  long 
series  of  sectional  contests,  grew  out  of  the  fact  that 
American  Eclipse  was  without  a  rival  in  the  North  and 
Sir  Charles  without  a  rival  in  the  South. 

On  Nov.  20,  1822,  C.  W.  Van  Ranst,  of  New  York, 
owner  of  American  Eclipse,  and  James  J.  Harrison  of 
Brunswick  County,  Virginia,  owner  of  Sir  Charles,  ap- 
peared at  the  Washington,  D.C.,  course  to  run  a  match 
race,  4-mile  heats,  with  these  horses,  for  $10,000  a  side. 
Harrison  paid  forfeit,  $5,000,  because  Sir  Charles  had 
met  with  an  accident  that  disabled  him  for  a  4-mile 
contest;  and  then  he  proposed  a  race  of  one  4-mile  heat 
for  $1,500.  This  race  was  run.  Sir  Charles  broke 
down. 

Later  in  the  same  day  Col.  William  R.  Johnson,  of 
Virginia,  who  had  witnessed  Sir  Charles'  defeat,  offered 
to  produce  a  horse  on  the  last  Tuesday  in  May,  1823,  to 
run  4-mile  heats  against  Eclipse  over  the  Union  Course, 
Long  Island,  for  $20,000  a  side,  $3,000  forfeit.  An  agree- 
ment to  this  effect  was  consummated  at  once;  it  was  vir- 
tually Eclipse  against  the  world.  This  contest  soon 
assumed  the  phase  of  a  North  and  South  affair  —  the 
first  of  the  many  matches  of  that  name  and  character 
that  enlivened  the  annals  of  American  racing. 

From  the  time  the  news  of  the  match  reached  the  far 
interior  the  South  felt  sure  of  victory,  due  largely  to  con- 
fidence in  Col.  Johnson's  well  known  skill  and  ability 
in  the  management  of  contests  of  this  sort. 


152      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

His  father,  before  him,  was  on  the  turf,  and  if  the  son 
was  not  born  in  a  manger  he  certainly  grew  up  in  the 
stable. 

When  quite  young  he  was  entrusted  with  his  father's 
horses  and  started  one  contrary  to  instructions.  Upon 
being  reprimanded  he  challenged  his  father  to  a  match 
race  to  prove  that  the  horse  he  had  started  was  better 
than  the  one  he  had  been  told  to  start.  After  this  race 
the  elder  Johnson  announced  that  William  was  "keener" 
than  he  was  and  surrendered  the  management  of  all  the 
horses  to  him.  That  the  father,  himself,  was  a  man  of 
keen  judgment  was  proved  by  the  subsequent  career  of 
the  son. 

About  1804-05  Col.  Johnson  was  partner  in  a  match 
race  run  by  Peacemaker  and  Ball's  Florizel,  and  trained 
Peacemaker.  He  was  defeated  but  he  afterward  won 
largely  with  Sir  Archy,  Pacolet,  Sir  Hal,  Vanity,  Reality, 
Sally  Walker,  Trifle,  Andrew,  Boston,  Bonnets  O'BIue 
and  many  others. 

"In  1808,"  said  a  writer  in  The  Spirit  of  the  Times  in 
1839,  "with  an  inferior  colt,  True  Blue,  Col.  Johnson 
won  the  great  Fairfield  stake,  beating  Sir  Archy,  Wrangler 
Palafox  and  Virginius  —  all,  subsequently,  of  the  highest 
distinction.  In  1809  and  1810  he  won  greatly  with  Sir 
Archy  and  Pacolet,  beating  every  competitor;  and  in 
the  latter  year,  with  Maria,  an  inferior  nag  to  the  others, 
won  the  famed  20-mile  race  at  Fairfield,  beating  Duroc, 
Sir  Alfred  and  others.  Shortly  after  this,  Tuckahoe,  by 
Ball's  Florizel,  became  the  great  race  horse  of  the  day, 
first  in  Virginia  and  then  in  Maryland.  In  1816  the 
Colonel  beat  him  in  Washington  with  Vanity,  having 
brought  $30,000  to  stake  on  the  event.  His  brilliant 
career  has  since  been  continued  with  Reality.  But  from 
1823,  the  time  of  the  Eclipse  match,  his  exploits  on  a 


American  Eclipse  vs.  Henry  153 

wider  theatre  may  be  dated.  If  ever  defeated  —  from 
that  he  was  sure  to  reap  advantage;  like  another  Fred- 
erick his  genius  shone  brightest  after  a  repulse.  He 
may  have  rode  and  trained  his  own  horses.  You  will 
recollect  the  Duke  of  Bedford  rode  Dragon 1  when  he 
beat  Sir  J.  Lade's  Cliffden,  rode  by  the  latter.  Both 
horses  came  to  the  United  States." 

In  the  30  North  and  South  matches  and  sweepstakes 
run  between  1823  and  1834,  John  C.Stevens  and  W.  R. 
Johnson  were  usually  the  largest  stockholders,  when 
stakes  were  divided,  and  each  usually  owned  the  entries 
of  their  respective  sections  or  managed  the  contests.  Of 
the  30  races  the  South  won  17.  The  aggregate  sum  at 
issue  in  the  30  contests  was  about  $120,000,  and  it  was 
regarded  as  singular  that  a  balance  of  only  $6,000  stood 
to  the  credit  of  the  South.  This  amount,  $120,000,  was 
exclusive  of  bets  and  Jockey  Club  purses.  The  latter, 
in  which  the  South  was  generally  victorious,  would  increase 
the  sum  to  her  credit  by  $12,000  to  $15,000.  The  week 
before  the  first  Peytona-Fashion  race  was  run,  in  1845, 
The  Spirit  reported  that  in  large  stakes,  and  in  matches 
for  sums  ranging  between  $1,000  and  $5,000,  the  North 
seemed  to  have  the  best  of  it,  but  the  South  had  made  a 
drawn  game  of  big  events.  More  of  this  in  another  story. 

Some  men  engaged  in  the  breeding  and  raising  of  horses 
for  pastime;  Johnson  made  it  his  vocation,  his  avocation 
and  his  vacation.  Being  a  man  of  good  judgment,  having 
a  just  regard  for  the  importance  of  system  and  the  care 
of  details,  and  in  love  with  his  business,  success  was 
inevitable.  He  accumulated  a  large  fortune  and  for  30 
years  or  longer  he  was  known  as  "the  Napoleon  of  the 
Turf."  A  visitor  to  his  home,  "Oaklands,"  near  Moody's 
1  Dragon,  as  shown,  stood  in  Tennessee. 


154      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Tavern,  wrote  that  everything  about  his  place,  the  move- 
ments of  servants,  etc.,  showed  the  master's  executive 
ability  and  love  of  order,  and  clocklike  regularity  in  the 
daily  routine. 

For  several  terms  Col.  Johnson  was  a  highly  re- 
spected member  of  the  Virginia  legislature,  was  a  Whig 
candidate  for  Presidential  elector,  and  for  several  years 
was  among  gubernatorial  and  congressional  probabilities. 
According  to  the  writer  just  quoted,  Johnson  prided 
himself  "upon  never  having  read  a  book  through,  like 
General  Jackson.  Yet  the  former  I  regard  as  a  man  of 
much  the  best  mind  of  the  two  —  better  fitted  to  make  a 
President." 

John  Randolph  had  great  confidence  in  Johnson's 
genius  as  a  horseman  and  in  his  judgment  of  congressional 
as  well  as  Jockey  Club  races,  and  frequently  sought  his 
advice  concerning  party  policies  and  his  own  individual 
interests.  As  evidence  of  his  esteem  Randolph  willed 
Johnson  $25,000  and  made  him  one  of  the  executors  of 
his  estate,  which,  by  the  way,  included  about  100  thorough- 
bred horses  at  the  time  of  Randolph's  death.  Follow- 
ing the  precedent  set  by  Randolph,  Abner  Robinson,  a 
wealthy  horseman  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  who  died  in 
1 843,  made  Col.  Johnson  one  of  the  executors  of  his  estate 
and  willed  him  $25,000. 

Under  the  agreement  between  Van  Ranst  and  Johnson 
the  South,  as  stated,  had  the  privilege  of  naming  the  con- 
testant against  Eclipse.  Five  horses  were  put  in  training 
at  Bristol,  Pennsylvania  —  John  Richards,  Betsey  Rich- 
ards, Henry,  Washington  and  Flying  Childers.  John 
Richards  was  Johnson's  first  choice  and  Henry,  or  Betsey 
Richards,  second.  Washington  fell  amiss,  John  Richards 
was  lamed  and  both  were  left  at  Bristol.  With  the  other 


American  Eclipse  vs.  Henry  155 

three,  Johnson  arrived  at  the  Union  Course  a  week  before 
the  time  set  for  the  race.  Only  after  repeated  trials  did 
the  Southern  turfmen  decide  to  run  Henry  in  preference 
to  Betsey  Richards.  This,  according  to  accounts  printed 
at  the  time.  Another  story,  printed  by  the  Baltimore 
Chronicle  14  years  later  (not  entirely  contradictory  of 
the  first),  was  to  the  effect  that  in  a  private  trial  in  New 
Jersey  Henry  gave  evidence  of  such  high  speed  it  was  de- 
termined to  distance  Eclipse  and  make  but  one  heat  of  the 
race.  Subsequent  events  tend  to  support  this  statement. 

Henry  was  foaled  June  17,  1819,  "the  property  of  Lemuel 
Long  oj  near  Halifax,  N.C"  l  His  dam  was  by  imp 
Diomed  and  his  grandam  Belloni  by  Bellair;  —  by  son 
of  imp  Fearnought;  —  by  imp  Valiant;  —  by  imp 
Janus;  —  by  imp  Jolly  Roger.  In  the  Diomed  line, 
therefore,  Eclipse  and  Henry  were  closer  kin  than  third 
cousins  and  each  was  a  great-grandson  of  imp  Medley. 

The  day  the  race  was  run  was  fine.  At  noon,  it  was 
said,  few  people  were  left  in  New  York  City  outside  of 
Bridewell  and  the  hospitals.  The  straight  stretch  in 
front  of  the  grand  stand  (nearly  a  mile)  was  lined  with 
carriages  four  and  five  deep.  Trees  and  fences  "groaned 
with  their  loads  of  human  beings."  Sixty  thousand 2 

1  Halifax,  North  Carolina,  is  within  a  very  short  distance  of  the 
Northampton  County  line.    In  1826,  one  Lemuel  Long,  born  in  1799, 
moved  from  Northampton  County,  North  Carolina,  to  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, Maury  County,  Tennessee.    Dr.  S.  C.  Long,  of  Mt.  Pleasant, 
informs  the  writer  that  his  father,  Lemuel  Long,  was  the  man  that 
bred  Henry. 

2  The  record  attendance  at  baseball  games  in  the  United  States 
was  in  1912  when,  in  the  series  of  eight  games  between  New  York 
and  Boston  for  the  world's  championship,  the  aggregate  number  of 
admissions   was    251,901 — an    average   of  31,487.      Only   60,000 
people   witnessed   "Gil"   Anderson's   record   breaking   automobile 
run  in  New  York  in  October,  1915. 


156      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

people,  many  of  whom  were  from  the  South,  were  on  the 
ground.    But  Col.  William  R.  Johnson  was  not. 

"Where,  where  was  Roderick  then! 
One  blast  upon  his  bugle-horn 
Were  worth  a  thousand  men." 

Indeed,  the  entire  60,000  could  have  been  spared  better 
than  he  —  from  the  Southern  standpoint.  An  overdose 
of  lobsters  had  put  the  actual  management  of  the  race 
upon  others.  Besides  the  stake  of  $20,000,  $200,000  was 
bet  on  the  result. 

Though  not  yet  four  years  old  Henry  was  required  to 
carry  108  pounds.  Eclipse,  nine  years  old,  carried  126 
pounds.  In  the  first  heat  William  Crafts  rode  Eclipse 
and  a  Virginia  boy  named  John  Walden  rode  Henry. 
Crafts  wore  a  crimson  jacket  and  cap  and  Walden  a  sky 
blue  jacket  and  cap. 

Henry  took  the  lead  at  the  start,  was  soon  three  lengths 
ahead,  and  kept  that  distance  ahead  up  to  the  last  quarter 
of  the  fourth  mile,  running  all  the  time  under  a  strong 
pull,  neither  whip  nor  spur  being  used  at  any  time.  Eclipse 
was  terribly  punished  and  pushed  to  his  utmost  but  never 
got  any  closer  than  one  length  to  Henry;  thus  they  came 
under  the  wire;  time  7:37?,  which  remained  the  record 
for  many  years.  Henry  had  run  the  four  miles  in  shorter 
time  than  his  managers  had  expected. 

Samuel  Purdy,  who  had  frequently  ridden  Eclipse  and 
who  understood  him  better  than  anyone  else,  was  then 
engaged  as  a  housebuilder  in  New  York  City.  A  mis- 
understanding had  resulted  in  his  not  being  chosen  as 
Eclipse's  jockey  for  this  contest.  Purdy,  feeling  that  he 
would  be  needed,  attended  the  race,  wearing  his  jockey 
suit  under  his  citizens  clothes  and  with  cap  and  spurs  in 
his  pocket.  After  Crafts  had  demonstrated  to  everyone 


American  Eclipse  vs.  Henry  157 

his  inability  to  manage  Eclipse,  Purdy  was  chosen.  He 
was  49  years  of  age,  a  man  of  high  integrity  and  honor, 
a  popular  favorite  and  famed  for  his  grace  and  self-posses- 
sion in  the  saddle.  When  he  appeared  for  the  second  heat 
the  Northerners  went  wild  with  joy. 

Henry  took  the  inside  and  kept  the  lead,  followed  by 
Eclipse.  Purdy  saw  that  his  only  chance  was  to  make  it 
a  contest  of  strength  and  endurance  and  for  nearly  three 
miles  he  drove  Henry  nearly  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  about 
20  feet  ahead,  with  little  variation.  Near  the  end  of  the 
third  mile  Purdy  made  his  run  and  Eclipse's  nose  about 
reached  Henry's  tail  as  they  entered  the  fourth  mile  where 
there  was  a  turn,  or  sweep,  in  the  track.  On  this  move 
Purdy  risked  everything;  it  was  a  desperate  case  and  he 
boldly  took  a  desperate  chance.  He  made  a  fight  for  the 
inside  and  before  they  reached  the  centre  of  the  turn 
Eclipse  lapped  Henry  about  head  and  girth.  A  little  more 
than  halfway  round  the  sweep  the  horses  were  a  dead 
lap,  Eclipse  on  the  inside;  when  three-fourths  round 
Eclipse's  quarter  covered  Henry's  head  and  neck.  As 
they  finished  the  bend  and  entered  upon  the  straight  run 
along  the  back  part  of  the  course  Eclipse  was  clear  and 
ahead.  By  strong  persuasion  he  gained  inch  by  inch 
during  the  remaining  three-quarters  of  a  mile  and  came 
in  about  two  lengths  ahead.  As  the  horses  passed  down 
the  home  stretch,  according  to  a  writer  who  was  present, 
"the  long  and  loud  applause  sent  forth  by  the  Eclipse 
party  exceeded  all  description;  it  seemed  to  roll  along 
the  track  as  the  horses  advanced,  resembling  the  loud  and 
re-iterated  shout  of  contending  armies,"  Time  7:49. 

"The  time  of  their  second  heat,"  according  to  an  expe- 
rienced critic,  "proved  that  Henry  had  been  overworked 
and  that  the  bottom  of  Eclipse,  joined  to  his  great  recu- 
perative powers,  was  too  much  for  his  young  competitor." 


158       Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

In  the  third  heat  Walden  was  supplanted  as  Henry's 
rider  by  Arthur  Taylor,  later  famed  as  Boston's  trainer 
for  three  and  a  half  years,  and  "long  a  rider  equalled  by 
few  and  surpassed  by  none."  At  the  start,  quoting  from 
the  same  eye-witness,1  "Purdy  took  the  lead  and  pushed 
Eclipse  from  the  score,  and  indeed  the  whole  four  miles, 
applying  the  whip  and  spur  incessantly,  evidently  resolved 
to  give  Henry  no  respite,  but  to  cause  him,  if  determined 
to  trail,  to  employ  all  his  speed  and  strength  without 
keeping  anything  in  reserve  for  the  run  in."  Henry 
continued  trailing  until  about  60  rods  from  home  in  the 
last  mile.  "Here,  being  about  five  yards  behind,  he  made 
a  dash  and  ran  up  to  Eclipse  so  far  as  to  cover  his 
quarter,  or  haunch,  with  his  head,  and  for  a  moment  had 
the  appearance  of  going  past;  he  made  a  severe  struggle 
for  about  two  hundred  yards  when  he  again  fell  to  the 
rear  and  gave  up  the  contest.  ...  In  the  last  heat 
Henry  carried  no  Ibs.,  being  two  pounds  over  his  proper 
weight;  it  not  being  possible  to  bring  Arthur  Taylor  to 
ride  less,  and  although  a  small  horse,  and  wanting  twenty 
days  of  being  four  years  old,  he  made  the  greatest  run 
ever  witnessed  in  America."  Time  8:24.  The  time  for 
each  of  the  twelve  miles  averaged  1:59.  In  the  opinion 
of  many  experts  "the  amazing  swiftness  of  Henry  lost 
him  the  race." 

To  Col.  Johnson's  absence  many  of  the  Southerners 
attributed  Henry's  defeat.  Their  unshaken  confidence  in 
Henry's  superiority  was  shown  by  the  challenge  issued  by 
Johnson  a  few  days  later  to  run  Henry  against  Eclipse,  at 
Washington,  the  following  Fall,  4-mile  heats,  $20,000  to 
$50,000  a  side,  each  party  being  allowed  the  privilege  of 
substitution  from  horses  of  their  respective  sections.  In 
declining  this  challenge,  for  himself  and  others  in  the 
1  C.  R.  Golden. 


American  Eclipse  vs.  Henry  159 

most  gentlemanly  manner  possible,  John  C.  Stevens,  of 
New  York,  closed  as  follows: 

"For  Mr.  Van  Ranst  I  answer  that  he  owes  it  to  the 
Association  who  have  so  confidently  supported  him,  to 
the  State  at  large,  who  have  felt  and  expressed  so  much 
interest  in  his  success,  and  to  himself  as  a  man  not  totally 
divested  of  feeling,  never,  on  any  consideration,  to  risk 
the  life  or  reputation  of  the  noble  animal  whose  generous 
and  almost  incredible  exertions  have  gained  for  the  North 
so  signal  a  victory,  and  for  himself  such  well-earned  and 
never-failing  renown." 

What  the  "Eclipse  party"  thought  of  Henry  was  evi- 
denced by  his  purchase  soon  after  his  defeat  and  his  re- 
moval to  New  York,  where  he  stood  for  many  years  and 
did  much  to  improve  the  stock  of  that  state.  He  died  in 
Hanover  County,  Virginia,  in  1831.  Besides  Post  Boy,  he 
got  Decatur  who  won  a  $10,000  match  race  from  Fanny 
Wyatt,  4-mile  heats,  at  Washington,  D.C.,  in  1838; 
time  7:45.  Decatur's  dam  was  Ostrich  by  American 
Eclipse. 

And  so  it  came  about  that  both  Henry  and  Eclipse  won 
the  esteem  of  all  sections  by  their  performances,  and, 
through  many  worthy  descendants,  linked  their  names 
and  their  fame  inseparably  in  the  list  of  the  great  horses 
of  America. 

Immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  .Congress  on 
March  3,  1823,  according  to  Garland's  biography  of  John 
Randolph,  the  sage  of  Roanoke,  "hurried  off  to  Virginia 
and  spent  some  days  with  his  friend,  William  R.  Johnson, 
in  Chesterfield,  who  was  then  in  high  training  for  the  great 
match  race  between  the  North  and  the  South.  The  exer- 
cise and  excitement  of  mind  in  anticipation  of  his  favorite 
sport  produced  an  evident  change  in  Mr.  Randolph's 


160      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

health;   it  was  much  improved;   he  slept  better  than  he 
had  for  ten  years. 

"To  that  night/  says  he,  'spent  on  a  shuck  mattress  in 
a  little  garret  room  at  Chesterfield  Court-house,  Sunday, 
March  the  pth,  1823,  I  look  back  with  delight.  It  was  a 
stormy  night.  The  windows  clattered,  and  William  R. 
Johnson  got  up  several  times  to  try  and  put  a  stop  to  the 
noise,  by  thrusting  a  glove  between  the  loose  sashes.  I 
heard  the  noise;  I  even  heard  him;  but  it  did  not  disturb 
me.  I  enjoyed  a  sweet  nap  of  eight  hours,  during  which, 
he  said,  he  never  heard  me  breathe.  N.B.  I  had  fasted 
all  day,  and  supped  (which  I  have  not  done  since)  on  a 
soft  egg  and  a  bit  of  biscuit.  My  feelings  next  day  were 
as  new  and  delightful  as  those  of  any  bride  the  day  after 
her  nuptials,  and  the  impression  (on  memory  at  least)  as 
strong.' 

"He  was  present  (as  most  lovers  of  the  turf  were)  at 
the  celebrated  race  between  Eclipse  and  Henry,  on  the 
Long  Island  Course,  in  the  month  of  May.  He  stood  in 
a  very  conspicuous  place  on  the  stand  during  the  race, 
surrounded  by  gentlemen  of  the  North  and  the  South; 
and  he  evidently  was  very  confident  of  the  success  of 
Henry.  But  after  the  result,  to  him  so  unexpected,  and 
while  the  thousands  of  spectators  were  vociferously  ap- 
plauding the  successful  rider  (Purdy),  Mr.  Randolph 
gave  vent  to  his  great  disappointment  by  exclaiming  to 
those  around  him  in  his  most  satirical  tone: 

"'Well,  gentlemen,  it  is  a  lucky  thing  for  the  country 
that  the  President  of  the  United  States  is  not  elected  by 
acclamation,  else  Mr.  Purdy  would  be  our  next  President, 
beyond  a  doubt.'" 

Hon.  Rufus  King,  of  New  York,  and  Col.  William 
Wynn,  of  Virginia,  were  together  at  the  race,  and  the  editor 
(then  or  later)  of  the  New  York  Express  was  near  them. 


American  Eclipse  vs.  Henry  161 

Randolph  "was  excited  to  an  astonishing  degree,  as 
almost  every  other  person  present  was,"  wrote  the  Express 
editor  many  years  later.  "  When  Henry  had  beaten  Eclipse 
in  the  first  heat,  and  had  come  in  ahead  on  both  the  first 
and  second  rounds  of  the  second,  it  was  a  despairing 
moment  and  all  was  breathless  silence.  Even  in  a  crowd 
where  more  than  a  hundred  thousand  persons  were  spec- 
tators, the  slightest  noise  could  be  heard,  and  at  this 
particular  juncture  when  the  horses  were  hidden  by  a 
knoll,  Mr.  Randolph  cried  out  in  his  shrill  voice,  to  Colonel 
Wynn,  of  Virginia,  who  stood  in  a  better  position  '  Whose 
horse  is  ahead  now,  Colonel  Wynn? '  to  which  a  reply  was 
given  in  a  stentorian  voice,  'Mr.  Randolph,  Eclipse  has 
passed  Henry*  —  'Then/  cried  out  Mr.  R.,  'we  have  lost 
the  race,  by  God/  These  emphatic  words  were  heard  by 
the  multitude,  and  deafening  shouts  rent  the  air/' 

Randolph  believed  that  Henry  was  the  best  horse,  and, 
it  was  said,  could  never  endure  the  sight  of  a  lobster  be- 
cause, as  he  stated,  "it  was  a  supper  of  lobsters,  not 
Eclipse,  that  beat  us.  If  Johnson  had  been  there  the  day 
would  have  been  ours.  As  it  is  —  Eclipse  will  gain  more 
fame  for  beating  such  a  horse  as  Henry  than  for  winning 
the  race." 

But  on  the  authority  of  A.  T.  Nolen,  of  Williamson 
County,  Tennessee,  it  may  be  stated  that  Johnson,  more 
conservative  than  Randolph,  did  not  place  all  the  responsi- 
bility for  Henry's  defeat  on  the  supper  of  lobsters.  In 
advertising  O' Kelly,  by  Eclipse,  to  stand  at  his  place  in 
1836,  Nolen  said  that  after  Johnson  had  failed  to  put 
down  Eclipse  and  had  failed  later  to  put  down  his  colts, 
"he  turned  about  and  bought  several  of  Eclipse's  best 
sons,  such  as  Lance,  Goliah,  O' Kelly,  Vertumnus,  etc., 
and,  to  cap  the  climax,  bought  half  of  the  veteran, 
Eclipse.  Being  a  general  of  great  sagacity  and  skill  he 


1 62      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

turned  to  gathering  in  his  own  hands  the  armour  of  war- 
fare with  which  he  had  been  scourged." 

At  a  session  of  Congress,  some  time  after  the  Eclipse- 
Henry  race,  the  exigencies  of  the  hour  bring  Randolph  to 
his  feet  to  roam  at  large  through  a  wide  range  of  subjects. 
He  has  bouquets  for  some  persons,  thorns  for  others;  bit- 
ing sarcasm  for  the  people  of  the  North  as  a  whole.  His 
long  service  and  many  speeches  have  not  diminished  the 
attractiveness  of  his  unique  personality  or  lessened  interest 
in  what  he  has  to  say  upon  any  subjct.  Among  his 
associates  in  Congress  —  as  had  been  the  case  among 
strangers  at  the  Eclipse-Henry  race  —  his  emphatic, 
shrill-voiced  scintillations  always  fall  on  appreciative 
ears.  The  scene  at  the  Union  Course  flashes  across  his 
mind.  He  pauses  a  moment  for  a  starting  point  while 
House  and  galleries  lean  toward  him  in  perfect  silence, 
wondering  what  he  will  say  next  —  eager  to  catch  every 
word.  And  this  is  the  gold,  unalloyed  with  the  sting  of 
defeat,  with  which  they  are  rewarded: 

"Mr.  Speaker:  I  pass  from  the  great  men,  as  they  are 
pleased  to  call  themselves,  of  the  Northern  tribes  —  and 
digressing  even  further  from  the  particular  object  of  my 
speech,  call  the  attention  of  the  House  to  a  man,  who 
knows,  in  his  vocation,  no  superior.  He  has  not,  Sir, 
*  split  the  ears  of  the  groundlings '  in  this  hall,  a  panorama 
of  human  life,  or,  in  the  theatre,  the  mock  representative 
of  man's  follies  and  woman's  weakness,  drawn  down  the 
applause  of  the  galleries,  by  'tearing  a  passion  to  pieces,' 
as  we  see  and  hear  every  day,  or  rather  night,  in  the  play 
houses  of  this  country.  No,  Sir.  The  man  of  whom  I 
speak,  was  the  last  and  only  hope  of  the  North  in  a  struggle 
between  it  and  the  South,  where  pride  and  skill  were  at 
stake.  I  was  opposed  to  him;  I  joined  in  the  general  wish 


American  Eclipse  vs.  Henry  163 

of  every  true  son  of  the  South  that  his  great  knowledge 
of  his  vocation  should  fail  him.  But  we  were  all  doomed 
to  sad  disappointment.  I  believe  we  lost  by  the  absence 
on  the  occasion  of  one  of  Virginia's  best  sons,  who  had  a 
'rascally  ague*  at  the  time.  —  I  speak,  Sir,  of  Samuel 
Purdy,  the  rider  of  Eclipse!  Had  you  witnessed  the  exul- 
tation of  the  South  when  Henry  came  out  ahead,  on  the 
first  heat  of  that  memorable  contest,  you  might  form  some 
idea  of  the  consternation  which  prevailed  in  our  ranks 
when  it  was  announced  that  Samuel  Purdy  was  to  ride 
Eclipse  the  next  heat.  The  breathless  anxiety  and  silence 
with  which  we  eyed  him,  as  he  threw  his  leg  over  the  noble 
animal,  were  only  broken  by  the  murmuring  applause 
with  which  the  adverse  party  greeted  his  appearance. 
The  skill  of  the  Virginia  rider  was  undoubted,  but  it  re- 
quired something  more  than  human  to  compete  success- 
fully with  Samuel  Purdy.  The  horses  went  off  from  the 
score,  and  as  all  the  world  knows,  Eclipse  won.  The  re- 
nown of  the  performance  of  that  day  will  go  down  with 
the  history  of  civilized  society,  and  transmit  the  name 
of  Samuel  Purdy  as  the  most  skillful  of  jockeys  to  the 
latest  posterity." 


POST  BOY  vs.   JOHN  BASCOMBE 

What  Southern  horse  was  fit  to  go  against  Post  Boy? 

That  was  the  question  that  focused  public  attention  as 
the  time  drew  near  for  the  great  North  and  South  match 
of  1836. 

The  date  set  for  the  race  was  May,  31;  up  to  April  12 
the  horse  that  could  give  Post  Boy  a  run  for  his  money 
had  not  yet  appeared  in  the  South. 

For  the  race  with  Eclipse  Col.  Johnson  had  put 
several  horses  in  training  in  the  Virginia  winter.  Now, 
hot  weather  had  come  to  the  Southern  racing  kingdom 
and  found  it  still  without  a  horse. 

The  gravity  of  the  situation  was  intensified  by  the 
brilliant  performances  of  Post  Boy  in  his  4-year-old  form, 
the  previous  year,  when  he  won  six  races  without  losing  a 
heat  and  secured  a  place  in  popular  esteem  second  only 
to  that  held  by  Eclipse  a  few  years  before.  Two  of 
these  races  were  of  two  miles,  and  four  of  four  miles. 
On  Nov.  6,  he  ran  two  4-mile  heats  under  a  pull,  yet 
ran  each  in  7:52 — the  best  4-mile  heats  of  that  year. 
In  all  of  these  races,  which  were  run  in  New  York  and 
New  Jersey,  Post  Boy  contended  with  the  best  horses  of 
the  East,  and  some  from  Maryland  and  Virginia.  The 
"Old  Napoleon,"  himself,  had  one  of  his  best  in  the  race 
in  which  Post  Boy  made  the  record  4-mile  time  of  the 
year. 

This  North  and  South  match  was  to  be  of  4-mile  heats 
for  $5,000  a  side,  half-forfeit.  Each  side  had  the  privilege 


Post  Boy  vs.  John  Bascombe  165 

of  naming  a  contestant  at  the  post.  As  of  one  voice  the 
North,  at  the  close  of  the  season  in  November,  1835, 
named  Post  Boy  as  their  champion  and  awaited  impa- 
tiently the  time  when  his  prowess  would  win  for  him  the 
championship  of  the  entire  Union. 

To  be  caught  hors  de  combat  was  very  trying  on  Southern 
spirit  and  sportsmanship;  but  what  hurt  still  more  was 
the  feeling  of  confidence  at  the  North,  and  the  knowledge 
that  this  confidence  was  well  based.  Then  it  was,  when 
the  South  was  sore  depressed,  that  a  new  star  came 
into  the  racing  firmament  where  least  expected  and 
pointed  the  way  to  a  creditable  contest,  if  not  to  victory. 

And  what  of  this  new  star? 

In  the  first  place  his  dam  was  foaled  in  Williamson 
County,  Tennessee.  Col.  James  Gray  Jones,  of  Wil- 
liamson, owned  a  Kentucky  bred  mare  by  imp  Buzzard 
a  grandson,  through  Woodpecker,  of  King  Herod  and  the 
great-grandsire  of  Glencoe.  This  mare  Col.  Jones  bred 
to  Pacolet  when  that  historic  horse  stood  at  J.  W. 
Clay's,  in  what  is  now  South  Nashville.  Grey  Goose,  the 
produce,  after  being  run  by  Col.  Jones  in  Tennessee, 
was  sold  to  John  Connolly,  of  near  Huntsville,  Ala.,  who, 
in  1830,  bred  her  to  Bertrand,  the  produce  being  a  colt. 

Soon  after  this  colt  was  foaled  a  Methodist  Camp 
Meeting  was  held  on  Connolly's  plantation.  The  chief 
orator  of  the  meeting  —  as  his  name  was  spelled  by 
Connolly  —  was  Rev.  John  Bascom-be.  Connolly  at- 
tended the  services,  formed  a  warm  admiration  for  the 
preacher  and  entertained  him  in  his  home.  By  way  of 
expressing  his  esteem,  Connolly  asked  permission  to  name 
one  of  his  colts  John  Bascombe,  and  this  pleasure  was 
not  denied  him. 

Of  all  his  colts  of  that  year  John  Bascombe  was  Con- 
nolly's favorite. 


1 66      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

In  the  best  racers  in  England  at  that  time  the  Buzzard- 
Diomed  cross  was  the  most  prominent,  and  in  this  country 
Woodpecker  (by  Bertrand),  winner  of  every  race  he  ran, 
was  a  forcible  illustration  of  its  worth.  The  success  of 
this  intermixture  of  blood  was  doubtless  the  basic  reason 
for  Connolly's  good  opinion  of  John  Bascombe.  But  the 
colt's  early  performances  did  not  come  up  to  Connolly's 
expectations  and  he  was  sold  in  a  lot  of  four  or  five  others, 
including  Bill  Austin  (by  Bertrand  dam  by  Timoleon),  to 
Connolly's  son-in-law,  Maj.  John  Blevins,  of  South  Ala- 
bama. Maj.  Blevins,  finding  that  Bascombe  could  beat 
Bill  Austin  in  all  their  trials,  sold  the  latter  to  Col.  John 
Crowell,  of  Fort  Mitchell,  Alabama,  who  put  him  in 
charge  of  M.  L.  Hammond  to  be  trained. 

Hammond  had  trained  for  President  Jackson  and  his 
private  Secretary  Maj.  A.  J.  Donelson,  and  if  he  had  not 
learned  his  system  from  "Old  Hickory"  he  certainly 
agreed  with  the  President  of  the  United  States  as  to  the 
necessity  of  severe  treatment  in  training  race  horses. 
Hammond's  methods  were  condemned  by  many  but  he 
brought  results  where  others  failed.  It  was  so  with  both 
Bill  Austin  and  John  Bascombe.  In  a  race  between  these 
two  horses,  at  Mt.  Meigs,  Alabama,  November  24,  1835, 
Austin  defeated  Bascombe,  and  Maj.  Blevins,  miffed  at 
his  defeat,  let  Bascombe  go  for  a  small  sum  to  join  Bill 
Austin  in  Col.  Crowell's  stable.  Hammond  then  put 
Bascombe  through  the  "third  degree"  and  brought  him 
into  the  winning  class,  on  two  3-mile  occasions. 

Over  in  South  Carolina,  in  the  stable  of  Col.  Wade 
Hampton,  at  this  time,  was  a  famous  racer,  Argyle  (by 
Mon's  Tonson,  dam  Thistle  by  Ogle's  Oscar),  owned 
jointly  by  Col.  Hampton  and  Col.  W.  R.  Johnson, 
and  another,  and  valued  at  $15,000.  Just  for  pastime 
Argyle's  owners  proposed  to  Col.  Crowell  to  put  $17,000 


JOHN  BASCOMBE 


BOSTON 


Post  Boy  vs.  John  Bascombe  167 

on  Argyle  against  $15,000  on  the  choice  of  Bill  Austin, 
Lady  Nashville,  Bolivia  or  John  Bascombe,  in  a  little  4- 
mile  heat  affair  between  friends.1 

This  challenge  was  accepted  and  the  race  set  for  April 
12,  1836  at  Augusta,  Georgia. 

In  training  for  this  match  Bill  Austin  and  Bolivia  broke 
down  and  Lady  Nashville  fell  amiss.  To  Col.  Crowell 
it  was  a  ground  hog  case  —  John  Bascombe  or  forfeit 
and,  what  was  worse,  a  back  down.  To  John  Bascombe 
it  was  Opportunity  knocking  loudly  at  his  stable  door. 
The  hearty  response  he  made  showed  he  was  prepared 
for  the  call.  Carrying  102  pounds  he  distanced  Argyle 
in  the  first  heat;  time  7:44. 

A  new  light  had  come  into  the  South. 

That  everybody  felt  that  way  about  it  is  clearly  shown 
by  what  followed. 

Col.  Crowell,  as  soon  as  the  race  was  over,  tendered 
John  Bascombe  to  Col.  W.  R.  Johnson  to  contend  with 
Post  Boy,  and  the  offer  was  promptly  accepted. 

Simultaneously  with  the  news  of  Bascombe' s  discovery 
the  word  went  northward  that  Post  Boy  would  have  a 
competitor  worthy  of  his  fame. 

Bascombe,  who  had  been  in  hard  training  since  the 

1  Bolivia  was  by  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson's  Bolivar  and  Lady  Nash- 
ville was  by  Stockholder.  Both  mares  had  been  foaled  in  Davidson 
County,  Tennessee,  as  the  property  of  Maj.  A.  J.  Donelson,  Bolivia 
being  owned  subsequently  by  President  Jackson.  After  both  mares 
had  been  trained  in  the  White  House  stables  by  Hammond  they 
were  sold  to  Col.  Crowell.  In  a  letter  to  Stockley  Donelson  written 
in  Washington,  July  24,  1835,  A.  J.  Donelson  said  he  had  received 
a  letter  "  from  Col.  Crowell  of  Georgia  in  which  he  says  of  Lady 
Nashville:  'she  can  run  under  a  hard  press  the  first  and  second  heat 
of  four  miles '  and  he  believes  the  third  without  giving  back  one  inch 
and  I  am  satisfied  if  Johnson  had  her  he  would  not  give  her  for  two 
Trifles.  Crowell  has  refused  three  thousand  for  this  mare  and  the 
same  price  for  Bolivia." 


1 68      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

previous  August,  took  up  the  line  of  march  at  once  for 
Long  Island.  His  route  took  him  through  the  land  where 
his  two  grandsires,  Sir  Archy  and  Pacolet,  had  brought 
renown  to  Col.  Johnson;  and  it  must  have  been  with 
a  feeling  of  considerable  pleasure  that  the  Old  Napoleon 
looked  upon  Bascombe  and  called  him  good. 

At  Newmarket,  Virginia,  Bascombe  stopped  for  a  little 
recuperation  and  proceeded  from  there  with  horses  of 
Col.  Johnson's  stable.  Most  of  the  journey  was  made 
on  foot  and  under  many  hardships  incident  to  flood  and 
mud. 

Post  Boy  was  bred  by  Nelson  Lloyd,  of  Lloyd's  Neck, 
Queen's  County,  Long  Island,  and  was  foaled  May  5, 
1831.  He  was  out  of  Garland,  by  Duroc.  Garland's 
dam  was  by  Hambletonian  (by  imp  Messenger)  and  her 
grandam  was  Miller's  Damsel  (by  imp  Messenger); 
so  in  Post  Boy  was  united  the  blood  of  Sir  Archy  and  the 
Eclipse  family,  excellent  crosses,  as  shown  in  the  careers 
of  Shark,  Black  Maria,  Mingo,  Alice  Grey,  Henry  Archy 
and  others. 

Post  Boy  was  fifteen  hands  and  two  inches  high,  dark 
chestnut,  one  hind  foot  white.  He  was  well  put  together 
for  hardihood  and  carrying  weight,  his  greatest  and 
almost  only  defects  being  a  short  trunk  and  too  much 
rotundity. 

In  April,  1834  (Robert)  Tillotson  &  Gouveneur,  of 
New  York,  paid  $700  for  Post  Boy,  and  thereafter  he 
ran  in  Tillotson's  stable.  Gouveneur  sold  his  interest  to 
Tillotson  in  the  fall  of  1836. 

Bascombe  had  not  as  many  victories  to  his  credit  as 
Post  Boy,  but  he  had  made  better  time  at  Augusta  than 
Post  Boy  had  ever  made.  Carrying  1 14  pounds,  in  a  race 
with  Post  Boy,  of  the  same  age  and  carrying  the  same 
weight,  what  would  be  the  result? 


Post  Boy  vs.  John  Bascombe  169 

The  fact  that  there  was  very  little  betting  before  or 
during  the  race  showed  that  conservative  minds  consid- 
ered the  horses  about  evenly  matched,  an  opinion  sub- 
sequently confirmed.  The  track  was  not  in  the  best 
condition  and  a  strong  wind  blew  from  the  northeast,  so 
the  best  time  was  not  anticipated. 

Post  Boy's  popularity  at  the  North,  and  the  sudden 
leap  into  fame  by  the  hitherto  unknown  John  Bascombe, 
drew  to  the  Union  Course  the  largest  crowd  that  had 
assembled  there  since  the  Eclipse-Henry  race. 

Bascombe  was  a  light  chestnut,  with  one  forefoot  and 
one  hind  foot  white.  As  a  whole,  his  form  indicated 
speed,  but  neither  great  endurance  nor  ability  to  carry 
weight.  So  said  some  critics.  Others  thought  his  make- 
up indicated  speed,  endurance  and  strength.  The  accu- 
racy of  these  widely  divergent  opinions  was  soon  to  be 
tested. 

When  the  Southern  champion,  after  an  unprecedented 
journey,  was  stripped  for  action,  his  high  spirits,  perfect 
condition  and  game  appearance  won  for  his  trainer  the 
most  lavish  praise.  Col.  Johnson's  favorite  jockey, 
Willis,  who  had  ridden  Argyle  at  Augusta,  mounted 
Bascombe.  Gilbert  W.  Patrick,  who  later  rode  Boston 
successfully  for  three  years,  and  who,  still  later,  rode 
Lexington  when  he  made  a  new  4-mile  record  at  New 
Orleans,  mounted  Post  Boy. 

Post  Boy  had  the  pole.  Bascombe  took  the  outer  edge 
of  the  track  to  make  a  straight  run  for  the  lead.  At  the 
first  tap  of  the  drum  they  got  away,  making  play  from 
the  start.  Willis  collared  Post  Boy,  was  soon  a  length  in 
front,  and  as  they  entered  the  back  stretch  Bascombe  took 
the  track  and  was  never  headed.  As  they  swung  round 
the  turn  Post  Boy  let  out  a  link  and  the  pace  improved, 
though  Bascombe  still  led  his  saddle  girth.  As  they 


170      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

passed  the  Judges'  stand  Bascombe  widened  the  gap  a 
length.     Willis*  strategy  now  became  evident. 

"Bascombe  made  play  on  each  straight  stretch,  and  led  so  far 
as  to  give  his  antagonist  no  chance  in  rounding  the  semi-circles,  where 
Willis,  hugging  the  pole,  held  him  up  invariably,  obliging  Post 
Boy  to  make  so  wide  a  swerve  in  order  to  pass,  that  by  the  time  the 
horses  were  neck  and  neck,  they  had  cleared  the  turn,  when  he  (Willis) 
would  immediately  take  his  place  in  front.  Willis'  riding  evinced 
the  utmost  nicety  of  judgment  as  to  the  powers  of  the  nonpareil 
he  so  gracefully  bestrode.  He  found  that  his  horse  had  the  foot  of 
Post  Boy,  and  the  only  fear  was  of  his  endurance.  But  he  made  his 
race  safe  by  striding  away  at  a  tell-tale  pace  around  the  back  stretch, 
on  the  north  bend  of  which  he  had  reason  to  fear  Post  Boy  might 
prove  dangerous.  The  first  mile  was  run  in  2: 02;  in  the  second  Post 
Boy  having  got  limber,  and  finding  he  had  an  ugly  customer,  went 
at  him  in  earnest,  and  the  pace  grew  very  much  better,  as  he  locked 
him.  With  little  change  of  position,  they  ran  thus  the  whole  of  the 
second  mile  in  i :  56.  Now  Willis  was  to  do  or  die.  He  knew  that  on 
the  fourth  mile,  Post  Boy  would  make  bis  brush,  and  he  had  heard 
of  that  before  —  it  was  a  caution  but  the  'Methodist  Priest'  under 
him  was  'a  sin  to  Crockett!'  Post  Boy  collared  him  as  they  passed 
the  gate  on  the  third  mile,  when  Willis  at  once  took  a  pull  at  his 
horse,  and  holding  him  well  together,  kept  him  at  his  work.  The 
pace  was  killing  —  but  'calm  as  a  summer's  morning'  Willis  was 
winning  his  race  out  of  the  fire.  This  mile,  the  third,  was  run  in 
i :  54  and  it  gave  Bascombe  the  race.  Post  Boy  had  lapped  him  all 
the  way,  and  the  result  was  that  when  they  reached  the  north  corner 
he  had  not  a  run  left;  while  Willis,  who  was  going  the  pace  without 
distress,  drew  a  little  upon  his  horse,  and  finally  won  the  heat  in 
7:49  with  something  to  spare,  in  hand,  Post  Boy  pulling  up  within 
the  distance  pole  and  walking  in." 

Just  before  the  bugle  sounded  for  the  second  heat 
announcement  was  made  from  the  Judges'  stand  that 
C.  W.  Van  Ranst  would  present,  as  a  meed  of  honor  to 
the  victor  of  the  contest,  the  saddle  worn  by  American 
Eclipse  "in  the  first  great  strife  between  Northern  and 
Southern  horses,  together  with  his  bridle,  rider's  cap, 


Post  Boy  vs.  John  Bascombe  171 

jacket  and  spurs  —  the  glorious  trophy  to  remain  a  per- 
petual prize  for  all  similar  trials  of  speed  and  bottom." 

Neither  Bascombe  nor  Post  Boy  had  seemed  distressed 
by  the  first  heat  and  both  came  up  fresh  for  the  second. 

After  some  trouble  in  starting  they  got  away  neck 
and  neck,  Post  Boy  on  the  outside,  and  went  to  the  end 
of  the  first  mile  in  two  minutes,  without  apparent  effort. 

"On  passing  the  stand,  Post  Boy  received  a  hint  to  increase  his 
stride,  and  Willis,  wide  awake,  but  cool,  let  go  his  horse  a  little  by 
the  head.  The  pace  mended  at  once,  Bascombe  still  leading  by  a 
throat  latch,  and  Willis  keeping  him  there.  This  mile  and  the  third 
were  both  run  in  i :  56,  the  horses  locked  all  the  way,  and  so  close 
together  that  the  knees  of  their  jockeys  were  knocking  against  each 
other  —  both,  too,  going  the  pace,  as  the  time  shows,  at  a  flight  of 
speed. 

"So  beautiful  and  spirited  a  contest  was  never  witnessed  in 
America. 

"On  sweeping  round  the  first  curve  of  the  last  mile  the  gallant 
little  fellow  on  Post  Boy  set-to  in  sporting  style.  He  had  long  been 
finessing  to  get  a  pull  at  his  horse,  to  bottle  him  up  for  a  desperate 
brush.  But  Willis  gave  him  no  respite  —  he  knew  both  horses  like 
a  book  and  his  judgment  of  pace  told  him,  that  to  make  the  race  a 
safety  Post  Boy  must  be  allowed  no  let  up  to  recover  his  wind. 
Bascombe  was  creeping  ahead  gradually  as  they  got  on  to  the  back 
side,  when  but  one  chance  remaining  for  Post  Boy,  little  Gil  seized 
upon  it,  determined  to  do  or  die.  Catching  his  horse  by  the  head, 
the  rowels  were  laid  in  up  to  the  shank,  claret  was  tapped,  and  his 
whip-hand  at  work.  Under  persuasions  like  these  Post  Boy  drew 
out  a  head  and  neck  in  front,  but  Bascombe  maintained  his  stride 
steadily  as  they  went  along  the  great  sweep  on  the  back  side,  the 
pace  getting  more  and  more  severe  as  they  neared  the  hill.  Leaning 
forward  as  they  came  to  the  dangerous  corner,  Willis  grazed  his 
glossy  side  with  the  spur,  and  the  noble  animal  under  him  justified 
his  training  by  instantly  recovering  his  position,  and  they  came  down 
to  the  last  turn  at  a  slashing  rate,  running  a  dead-lock  the  whole 
way.  The  pace  now  grew  still  more  severe,  and  the  shout  that 
went  up  from  thousands  as  they  dashed  round  upon  the  straight 
run  home,  told  of  hopes  and  fears,  how  delightful  to  a  sportsman! 
Here  Post  Boy  made  his  final  struggle  —  heels  and  hands  were 


172      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

busy  with  him  —  little  Gil  is  a  punisher,  and  he  did  wonders  —  but 
the  go-along  had  been  taken  out  of  his  horse  by  the  artiste  on  Bas- 
combe,  who  now  clapped  in  both  gaffs  and  gave  him  a  push  a  la 
Cbijney,  that  sent  the  phenomenon  from  Alabama  past  the  winning 
post  a  clear  length  ahead,  midst  the  waving  of  hats,  and  kerchiefs, 
and  enthusiastic  cheers  that  made  the  welkin  ring  for  miles  around." 

The  following  is  the  record  of  the  time  of  each  mile, 
taken  from  the  timer  of  the  race  as  it  was  noted  at  the 
stand: 

First  Heat —  ist  mile  2:2;  2d  mile  1:56;  $d  mile  1:54; 
4th  mile  1:57.  Total  7:49. 

Second  heat — ist  mile  2:00;  2d  mile  1:56;  3d  mile 
1:56;  4th  mile  1:59!.  Total  7:51^. 

Amidst  the  approving  shouts  of  the  multitude,  Willis, 
as  Bascombe's  rider,  was  formally  presented  with  the 
trophy  offered  by  Van  Ranst.  "Let  its  glorious  associa- 
tions," wrote  Editor  Porter,  "ne'er  be  sullied  by  those 
unworthy  of  the  trust,  but  endure  through  all  time  the 
memento  of  never  fading  victories  achieved  by  the  high 
mettled  racer  and  his  honest  rider.  John  Bascombe  is 
worthy  of  his  laurels,  his  title  and  descent.  The  South 
has  beat  us  fairly  and  honestly  on  our  own  ground.  We 
give  them  joy  of  their  victory.  The  trophy  now  goes 
from  us,  but  how  long  shall  the  South  retain  it?" 

Both  Willis  and  Hammond  received  their  dues  in  the 
way  of  compliments.  "The  South  may  boast  of  another 
Bascombe,"  said  Editor  Porter,  "but  we  shall  look  in 
vain  for  another  trainer  like  M.  L.  Hammond,  or  a 
second  Frank  Buckle  in  the  person  of  Willis.  The  latter's 
riding  was  a  theme  of  general  praise;  the  grace  with  which 
he  sat  his  horse,  not  less  than  the  perfect  coolness,  judg- 
ment and  skill  with  which  he  managed  him  would  have 
done  credit  to  Sam  Chifney  or  Jem  Robinson  in  their 
primest  days.  Well  has  he  won  his  honors  —  may  he 
wear  them  long." 


Post  Boy  vs.  John  Bascombe  173 

"Arthur  Taylor"  continued  Porter,  "is  a  great  creature 
in  his  line  of  life  and  has  long  been  deemed  at  the  head  of 
his  profession;  but  he  must  be  content  to  bear  a  rival 
near  the  throne.  For  out  of  twenty  races  in  which  Col. 
Crowell's  horses  have  been  named  this  year,  Hammond 
has  won  eighteen,  winning  for  the  veteran,  in  purses  and 
matches,  the  sum  of  thirty  thousand  dollars." 

Bascombe's  victory  took  the  Northern  people  by  sur- 
prise, and  the  excitement  and  feeling  of  chagrin  over  the 
defeat  of  their  favorite  was  slow  in  dying  out.  They 
believed  Post  Boy  was  the  better  horse  and  that  his  defeat 
was  due  to  a  change  of  trainers.  John  Buckley,  who  had 
charge  of  him  for  this  match,  had  been  out  of  the  training 
business  for  two  years,  and,  it  was  urged,  did  not  know 
Post  Boy's  temper  and  constitution.  There  was,  therefore, 
a  strong  desire  for  another  test.  At  the  club  dinner  where 
the  wine  was  red,  there  were  many  banters  and  accep- 
tances, from  which  reports  spread  that  Bascombe's  friends 
were  afraid  of  another  trial.  This  led  to  a  proposi- 
tion by  Col.  Crowell  for  another  race  for  a  sum  not 
less  than  $10,000.  This  banter  was  not  taken.  Later  a 
challenge  was  issued  to  the  world  for  a  match  race  for 
$20,000  a  side.  This  banter  not  being  taken  within  the 
time  specified,  Bascombe,  after  running  and  winning  one 
more  race,  went  into  the  stud  at  $100,  at  the  Hampton 
Course,  near  Augusta.  Col.  Crowell  had  combined  his 
stable  with  that  of  John  G.  Winter,  of  Augusta,  as  a  result 
of  trouble  with  the  Indians  at  Fort  Mitchell,  Alabama. 

During  the  ten  days  following  his  defeat  by  Bascombe, 
Post  Boy  won  two  4-mile  heat  races,  in  one  of  which  he 
ran  the  fourth  mile  in  1:47;  but  in  the  Fall  campaign,  he 
lost  two  races  to  Col.  W.  R.  Johnson's  Atalanta  and  paid 
$1,000  forfeit  to  Mingo.  Up  to  this  time  he  had  run 
sixteen  races  and  won  nine;  in  three  years  netting  $12,700. 


174      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

As  the  property  of  Robert  Tillotson,  Post  Boy  stood 
at  James  Holmes,  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  1838-1841; 
service  $100.  He  covered  62  mares  in  1838.  In  1839 
Tillotson  declined  an  offer  of  $10,000  for  him.  He 
lived  to  a  great  age  and  died  at  Dixon,  Illinois.  The 
likeness  of  John  Bascombe  is  reproduced  from  a  steel 
print  made  at  the  time  of  his  races  with  Argyle  and  Post 
Boy. 


ANGORA    vs.    RODOLPH 

"Gallatin,  Term.,  Dec.  22,  1835. 
"To  the  Editor  of  the  Baltimore  Sport  Magazine: 

"  I  will  run  my  mare,  Angora,  by  imp  Leviathan,  out  of  Thomas 
Barry's  mare,  Patty  Puff  (by  the  renowned  stallion,  old  Pacolet, 
out  of  the  famous  brood  mare  Rosey  Clack)  4-mile  heats  against 
any  horse,  mare  or  gelding  in  the  world  for  $5,000  a  side  h.  f.  The 
race  to  be  run  on  the  first  Thursday  in  October  next  over  the  Nash- 
ville Course;  or  I  will  run  her  the  same  distance  against  any  horse, 
mare,  or  gelding  in  Kentucky  for  the  same  amount  on  any  half  way 
course  on  the  same  day  —  the  rules  of  the  Central  Course  of  Balti- 
more to  govern  the  race.  If  either  of  the  above  propositions  is  ac- 
cepted the  nag  must  be  named  and  a  forfeit  of  $2,500  deposited  in 
the  Union  Bank  at  Nashville  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  April  next. 

"ROBERT  DESHA." 

Attracted  by  the  tide  of  emigration  to  the  Southwest, 
Robert  Desha  left  Pennsylvania,  lived  awhile  in  Kentucky 
and  finally  located  in  1782  about  four  miles  east  of  the 
present  site  of  Gallatin.  Among  his  children,  accompany- 
ing him  on  this  journey,  were  two  sons:  Joseph,  then  14 
years  of  age  and  Robert,  a  few  years  younger.  Joseph 
Desha  later  returned  to  Kentucky,  where  he  became  a 
legislator,  Congressman  and  Governor.  In  the  war  of 
1812,  he  was  a  Major  General.  Robert,  the  younger 
brother,  remained  in  Sumner,  served  in  the  war  of  1812 
as  Captain  and  Brigade  Major,  and  represented  his  district 
in  Congress  two  terms,  1827-31.  He  married  Nellie 
Shelby,  daughter  of  David  Shelby  and  granddaughter  of 
Anthony  Bledsoe,  and  lived  at  Spencer's  Choice  in  a 
residence  built  by  his  father-in-law,  in  1798. 


176      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Some  years  after  the  events  recorded  in  this  narrative, 
"General"  Desha  —  as  he  was  called  —  moved  to  Mobile, 
Alabama.  Since  then  his  name  as  the  breeder  and  owner 
of  one  of  the  best  race  "nags'*  of  his  time  has  been  en- 
tirely lost  to  memory,  and  he  is  now  best  known  as  an 
ancestor  of  several  New  York  multi-millionaires  and  a 
sprig  or  two  of  English  "nobility"  —  so-called.1 

Gen.  Desha's  challenge  added  greatly  to  the  feeling 
of  expectancy  that  pervaded  Spencer's  Choice  and  the 
country  round,  during  the  Christmas  festivities  that 
followed  its  writing.  It  was  several  times  printed  as  an 
advertisement  in  one  of  the  Nashville  papers  and,  doubt- 
less, in  Kentucky  papers.  Anyhow,  in  the  course  of  a  few 
weeks,  it  came  to  the  eye  of  Capt.  Sidney  Burbridge  of 
Frankfort,  then  at  the  head  of  Kentucky  breeders  and 
trainers,  who  lost  no  time  in  removing  Gen.  Desha's 
fear  that  no  one  would  accept  his  challenge.  After  some 
public  correspondence,  running  through  several  weeks, 
during  which  time  counter  propositions  were  made,  it 
was  finally  agreed  that  the  race  should  take  place  on  Sept. 
21,  1836,  at  Oakland  Course,  Louisville,  the  stake  and 
distance  being  as  named  by  Desha. 

Burbridge  met  Desha's  challenge  with  Rodolph,  5 
years  old,  bred  by  Charles  Buford,  of  Scott  County, 
Kentucky,  and  sold  by  him  to  Burbridge  and  Dickey. 
Rodolph  was  by  Archy-out-of-Transport,  son  of  Sir 
Archy;  his  dam  by  Haxall's  Moses,  grandam  by  Cook's 
Whip  (by  imp  Saltram,  dam  by  Herod)  and  great  grandam 
by  Craig's  Alfred,  son  of  imp  Medley.  Rodolph  was  15 J 
hands  high,  bay,  with  a  coat  like  satin;  his  hind  feet 
white  to  the  upper  pastern  joints;  his  forehead  fine,  his 
head,  neck,  shoulder  and  back  "almost  perfection";  a 

1  For  statements  about  the  Desha  family  Cisco's  "Historic  Sum- 
ner  County"  is  relied  upon. 


Angora  vs.  Rodolpb  177 

clean  set  of  limbs;  homely,  but  muscular,  quarters;  light 
bodied;  his  forearm  "uncommonly  long,  thick  and 
strong." 

Under  the  training  and  management  of  Burbridge 
Rodolph  had  run  six  races  and  won  all  of  them.  These 
were  a  2-mile  heat  race,  three  3-mile  heat  races  and  two 
4-mile  heat  races.  Over  the  Oakland  Course  in  the  spring 
of  1835,  in  a  3-mile  heat  race,  he  was  credited  by  his  owners 
as  having  made  the  best  time  ever  made  "west  of  the 
mountains"  —  first  heat  5:54;  second  heat  5:48.  Ken- 
tuckians  thought  him  a  great  4-miIer,  but  the  Editor  of 
The  Spirit,  who  was  in  no  sense  prejudiced  against  Ken- 
tucky, could  not  see  that  Rodolph's  best  time  entitled 
him  to  be  so  classed.  After  Desha's  challenge  had  been 
accepted  Rodolph  served  his  full  quota  of  40  mares. 

Angora  was  4  years  old,  15^  hands  high,  a  chestnut 
without  white.  Her  head  was  finely  shaped  and  well  set 
on  a  long  neck;  her  forelegs  set  wide  apart,  but  came  to 
the  ground  evenly  and  in  line.  Her  thighs  and  arms  were 
light  but  muscular;  her  cannon  bones  very  long;  across 
the  loin  and  through  the  brisket  she  was  "very  fine," 
her  shoulders  broad  and  oblique.  She  was  bred  by  Gen. 
Desha  and  was  trained  for  this  race  by  Green  Berry 
Williams. 

Under  the  agreement  Angora  was  to  carry  97  pounds 
and  Rodolph  118  pounds. 

The  only  questions  that  could  possibly  have  been 
involved  in  this  contest  were  the  merits  of  the  horses,  the 
relative  merits  of  the  Archy  and  Leviathan  blood,  and  the 
skill  of  the  respective  trainers  and  riders.  But  here,  as 
in  many  political  campaigns,  the  real  question  became  of 
secondary  importance,  and  the  contest  assumed  the  phase 
of  a  great  fight  between  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  for 
imaginary  supremacy  in  the  racing  world  of  "The  West." 


178      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

As  such  contest  it  excited  great  interest  among  the  people 
of  the  two  states  named  and,  also,  among  devotees  of  the 
turf  throughout  the  Union.  The  extent  of  the  popular 
interest  is  indicated  by  the  reports  of  events  at  Louisville 
where  enthusiasts  commenced  to  gather  two  weeks  before 
the  day  set  for  the  fates  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 
Louisville  at  the  time  had  about  15,000  population,  all 
told. 

"The  town  is  crowded  with  strangers  from  all  parts  of 
the  Union,"  wrote  The  Spirit  of  the  Times  correspondent  on 
September  20.  "The  stages  and  steamboats  still  continue 
to  bring  in  crowds.  All  the  hotels  are  actually  crammed. 
It  would  do  you  good  to  witness  the  anxious  looks  after 
the  first  bell  rings  for  dinner,  all  are  so  eager  to  make  the 
first  rush.  I  presume  the  excitement  in  this  part  of  the 
world  to  be  much  greater  than  it  was  in  New  York  during 
the  conflict  between  Bascombe  and  Post  Boy." 

"Perhaps  no  race  in  the  Union  ever  excited  greater  or 
more  intense  interest,"  said  a  Louisville  Journal  corre- 
spondent. 

"The  excitement  produced  by  this  contest,"  said  The 
Lexington  Observer  and  Reporter,  "has  never  before  been 
equaled  in  the  West." 

On  the  i  Qth  both  Angora  and  Rodolph  were  exhibited 
to  "a  large  assemblage  of  gentlemen."  "They  were  both 
admired  and  reflected  great  credit  upon  their  trainers, 
Mr.  Williams  and  Mr.  S.  Burbridge.  Several  bets  were 
made  even,  though  Angora  is  the  favorite."  So  wrote 
The  Spirit  man  the  day  before  the  race  was  run. 

Ten  thousand  people  saw  the  race.  The  "magnates  of 
the  land,  friend  and  foe  in  the  political  arena,  met  on  the 
turf  in  cordial  friendship."  Among  the  spectators  were 
Col.  A.  L.  Bingaman  and  Gov.  Poindexter,  of  Mississippi; 
Judge  Porter  of  Louisiana;  Gen.  Desha,  Col.  George 


Angora  vs.  Rodolpb  179 

Elliott  and  Gen.  J.  A.  Mabry,  of  Tennessee.  Balfe 
Peyton's  services  were  in  great  demand  by  the  friends 
of  Hugh  L.  White  in  the  campaign  then  raging  in  Ten- 
nessee, but  if  he  was  not  there  in  person  he  most  likely 
was  in  purse. 

But  the  rain!  It  had  been  falling  for  several  days  and 
more  came  that  morning.  The  track  was  muddy  and  full 
of  puddles.  "In  some  places  the  track  had  been  ploughed. 
Exception  was  taken  and  overruled." 

Honorable  Henry  Clay  and  H.  Daniels  were  the  Judges 
and  Mr.  Prestbury  the  Timer.  Rodolph  was  ridden  by  "a 
darkey  in  a  purple  jacket"  and  Angora  by  "Anthony  a 
yellow  boy  in  green  jacket  and  cap." 

"For  days  previous,"  wrote  a  Louisville  Journal  cor- 
respondent, "Angora  was  the  favorite,  the  mainstay  and 
cherished  hope  of  the  knowing  ones.  They  looked  upon 
her  as  the  lioness  destined  to  crush  in  embryo  and  silence 
forever  the  claims  of  Kentucky  for  speed,  bottom  or  stock 
in  horses.  Two  to  one  and  even  greater  odds  were  bet 
with  a  recklessness  which  testified  that  their  confidence 
amounted  almost  to  a  certainty,  thus  treating  our  modest 
but  gallant  champion  with  contempt.  Some  even  went 
so  far  as  to  wager  that  Rodolph  would  be  missing  at  the 
appointed  time  and  the  forfeit  surrendered." 

Continuing:  "The  day  has  arrived,  the  crowd  collected, 
and  the  eventful  hour  is  rapidly  approaching.  Pocket 
books  are  open  and  lots  of  bank  bills  fluttering  in  the 
breeze.  Rodolph,  that  lordly  steed,  is  on  the  track.  Look 
at  him  as  he  walks  down  the  stretch,  curving  his  proud 
neck  and  disdaining  the  earth  he  treads.  Already,  me- 
thinks,  he  is  chuckling  internally  at  these  rash  adventurers 
who  have  come  to  his  own  door-sill  to  snatch  away  his 
empire. 

"'How  are  the  bets  now?' 


1 80      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

" '  Even !  Even ! '  is  echoed  and  re-echoed  by  a  thousand 
voices. 

"  *  Where  are  your  two-to-one  betters,  the  wealthy  South- 
rons, and  especially  the  sharp  eagle-eyed  knowing  ones? ' 

"' Clear  the  track,  the  riders  are  up/  is  rung  like 
a  peal  of  thunder  throughout  that  vast  agitated  concourse. 
What  a  tremendous  throbbing  and  palpitation  is  going 
on  in  the  breast  of  many  a  luckless  wight  who  has  staked 
the  needful  on  the  issue. 

"Hark!  the  drum  is  tapped  and  they  are  off. 

"'Angora  ahead  —  go  it  Tennessee!'  is  now  shouted  in 
wild  delight  by  the  knowing  ones,  —  'where  are  you 
Kentuck?' 

"'She  is  nowhere,'  says  a  big  double-fisted  fellow  who 
has  but  nine  shillings  on  the  race  (a  Cincinnati  wager), 
'  Kentuck  is  where  she  always  was  and  ever  will  be  —  be- 
hind Tennessee.' 

"'Never  mind,'  cries  a  rough  honest  looking  laborer, 
who  has  bet  his  month's  wages  on  Rodolph,  'you'll  see 
what's  what  before  long;  if  Tennessee  beats  old  Kentuck 
this  heat  I'll  bet  two  to  one  the  mare's  tail  drops  off  at 
the  Judges'  stand.  Look  there,  my  darling;  hurrah,  my 
Rodolph  —  by  Juno  he  has  licked  her  the  second  round, 
and  if  he  hasn't  run  clear  from  under  the  rider's  cap  I  wish 
I  may  be  shot;  and  by  the  memory  of  Daniel  Boone,  if 
the  bay  will  slacken  a  bit,  I'll  bet  Rodolph  can  run  clear 
out  of  his  own  skin.  Go  it,  ye  cripples!  Rodolph  against 
the  world,  and  fling  in  a  railroad.' 

"And  so,  indeed  Rodolph  had  passed  the  boasted 
heroine  of  the  South,  just  like  a  knife,  after  loping  behind 
her  for  gallantry's  sake,  a  mile  or  two.  The  way  he  came 
around  the  fourth  time  wasn't  slow,  and  the  way  Angora 
was  distanced  was  nobody's  business  but  her  own,  and 
that  of  the  knowing  ones." 


Angora  vs.  Rodolpb  181 

Perhaps  a  more  intelligible  account  of  the  race  would 
be  to  say  that  Angora  was  "unaccountably  tired"  and 
was  distanced  in  the  first  heat,  Rodolph  running  all  the 
time  under  a  strong  pull;  time  8:56. 

"Angora,  the  vanquished,"  continued  the  correspondent 
above  quoted,  "was  led  off  to  her  stable  and  Rodolph  the 
victor,  attended  by  a  band  of  music,  led  off  the  multitude 
of  joyous  friends  to  Oakland  House  where  he  was  greeted 
with  a  volley  of  loud  and  piercing  plaudits. 

"Old  Hickory,  the  greatest  and  best,  looking  through 
the  vision  of  second  sight,  foretold  the  triumph  of  Rodolph. 
Many  thought  he  was  playing  the  courtier  to  our  state, 
but  now  they  are  convinced  he  knows  more  about  horse- 
racing  than  he  ever  did  about  the  affairs  of  the  nation.'* 

Many  similar  bucolic  exhibitions  of  overmuch  joy  are 
to  be  found  in  the  Kentucky  papers  of  that  time;  even 
the  Kentucky  poets  made  Rodolph's  victory  an  excuse 
to  chant  their  triumph  in  genuine  "pennyrile"  doggerel. 

According  to  a  Boston  newspaper,  $200,000  was  wagered 
on  the  result. 

Immediately  after  this  race  Hugh  Carlin,  of  Alexandra, 
Louisiana,  offered  to  run  Linnet  (by  Leviathan)  against 
the  victor,  3  or  4-mile  heats,  over  the  Natchez,  Missis- 
sippi, course  for  $10,000  to  $30,000,  which  the  owners  of 
Rodolph  refused. 

Possibly  before  the  race  was  run,  possibly  after,  Angora 
was  sold  to  Col.  A.  L.  Bingaman  of  Natchez,  Mississippi, 
who,  rumor  said,  lost  $40,000  by  her  defeat.  At  any  rate 
she  was  taken  from  Louisville  to  Natchez  as  Bingaman's 
property. 

Rodolph,  in  January  following,  was  purchased  for 
$15,000  by  a  Vicksburg  company,  in  which  Col.  Osmund 
Claiborne  was  interested.  Rodolph,  after  his  victory  over 
Angora,  gave  and  received  several  challenges,  and  one  or 


1 82      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

two  races  were  arranged,  but  none  of  them  ever  material- 
ized. He  was  billed  to  meet  Angora  again  on  May  17, 
1838,  in  a  2-mile  heat  race  at  Natchez;  but  about  April 
i,  because  of  lameness,  it  was  said,  paid  forfeit  of  500  bales 
of  cotton,  worth  $10,000,  and  returned  to  Kentucky,  his 
Mississippi  owners  having  sold  him  for  $20,000  to  Lexing- 
ton parties  for  use  in  the  stud. 

It  is  barely  possible  that  Rodolph's  owners  feared 
the  result  of  this  contest  with  Angora  who,  within  less 
than  one  year  after  her  defeat  at  Louisville,  had  won  a 
series  of  brilliant  races  in  Mississippi  and  Louisiana,  ten 
of  which  had  been  won  without  losing  a  heat. 

At  New  Orleans,  on  March  17,  1837,  Angora  met  six 
competitors,  several  of  whom  were  from  Virginia,  four  of 
whom  were  sired  by  sons  of  Sir  Archy,  and  one  of  whom 
had  the  same  degree  of  relationship  that  she  had  to  Paco- 
let.  This  contest,  according  to  The  Spirit  oj  the  Times, 
"presented  one  of  the  most  brilliant  and  gratifying  spec- 
tacles ever  witnessed  upon  an  American  race  course. 
Owing  to  continued  rains  the  track  was  heavy,  but  other- 
wise everything  was  in  apple-pie  order.  Not  less  than 
ten  thousand  spectators  were  upon  the  field,  comprising  a 
large  portion  of  the  intelligence,  fashion  and  wealth  of 
Louisiana  and  the  neighboring  states.  The  gay  Orleanos 
turned  out  en  masse  to  swell  the  concourse,  and  the  lovely 
belles  of  that  queenly  city,  radiant  with  beauty  and 
delight,  lent  a  most  inspiriting  and  seductive  influence  to 
the  manly  and  gallant  sports  of  the  Turf. 

"Great  numbers  were  prevented  from  attending,  from 
the  difficulty  of  procuring  a  conveyance  to  the  course, 
though  two  trains  of  railroad  cars  and  a  monstrous  steamer 
commenced  their  trips  early  in  the  morning.  Every  horse 
and  carriage  in  the  city  was  also  put  into  requisition,  not- 
withstanding which,  the  number  of  applicants  'oversized 


Angora  vs.  Rodolpb  183 

their  pile.'  Many  persons  determined  to  see  the  race 
were  compelled  to  walk,  as  they  did,  under  a  burning  sun 
four  miles  and  a  half;  no  joke,  by  the  bye,  though  it  shows 
the  interest  the  races  have  excited  in  the  city  of  New 
Orleans.  The  receipts  on  the  course  may  be  guessed  at 
when  we  state  that  Capt.  Y.  N.  Oliver,  proprietor  of  the 
track,  sent  into  the  city  in  the  evening  three  barrels  and  a 
half  of  dollars." 

Angora  was  the  favorite,  the  odds  being  as  high  as  four 
to  one  on  her  against  the  field.  She  carried  100  pounds 
and  won  "  amidst  the  shouts  of  her  friends."  Time  2:01  — 
1:59. 

"Angora's  success  here,"  the  Spirit's  staff  correspond- 
ent continued,  "and  at  the  last  Natchez  meeting,  en- 
tirely removes  the  unfavorable  opinion  caused  by  her 
defeat  by  Rodolph  at  Louisville.  The  Leviathans  have 
now  most  certainly  proved  themselves  the  fleetest  and 
the  best  mile  and  2-mile  horses  in  the  Southern  country, 
beating  everything  they  have  contended  against  at  these 
distances." 

Crowned  with  the  laurels  of  this  great  occasion  let  this 
product  of  "old  Sumner"  pass  into  history. 


THE  LEVIATHANS  vs.  THE  LUZBOROUGHS 
AND   OTHERS 

"The  Luzboroughs  have  arrived." 

So  wrote  Thomas  Barry,  of  Gallatin,  to  The  Spirit  of 
the  Times  in  February,  1838. 

And  everybody  in  Tennessee,  and  in  the  whole  South, 
for  that  matter,  knew  what  Barry  was  writing  about. 

But  now  there  may  be  some  that  do  not  know,  and  ex- 
planations are  in  order. 

It  started  a  few  weeks  after  Gen.  Desha  bantered 
the  world  to  test  the  qualities  of  his  Leviathan  filly, 
Angora.  Before  negotiations  to  that  end  could  be  com- 
pleted, Leviathan's  owner,  himself,  was  called  upon  to 
make  good  his  claims  for  the  get  of  his  famous  stallion. 

In  January,  1836,  the  report  reached  James  Jackson, 
owner  of  the  imported  stallion,  Lapdog,  that  the  lessees  of 
Luzborough,  at  Franklin,  Tennessee,  had  been  saying  bad 
things  about  Lapdog,  with  the  intention  of  injuring  his 
reputation  as  a  sire.  Jackson  at  once  issued  a  challenge 
for  a  test  of  speed  and  endurance  between  the  get  of  the 
two  horses.  This  challenge  was  carried  as  a  "standing 
ad"  in  the  Nashville  Whig  for  several  weeks  and  was  the 
beginning  of  a  bitter  controversy  of  two  months'  duration 
between  Jackson,  on  one  side,  and  Thomas  A.  Pankey,  of 
Franklin,  and  Rev.  Hardy  M.  Cryer,  on  the  other.  Com- 
munications were  printed  as  advertisements.  In  one 
communication,  answering  Cryer,  Jackson  said: 

"We  have  for  a  long  time  tried  to  avoid  Parson  Cryer 
(officious  and  intermeddling  as  he  has  been),  in  conse- 


The  Leviathans  vs.  The  Luzborougbs      185 

quence  of  his  anomalous  and  irresponsible  situation  — 
half  parson,  half  horseman  —  if  we  bantered  him  he  would 
plead  the  benefit  of  clergy;  and  as  to  newspaper  con- 
troversy, it  is  his  delight.  We  can  contend  with  sporting 
men,  but  warring  with  a  parson  is  like  warring  with 
women/5 

Pankey,  professing  to  represent  as  their  "friend,"  not 
"agent,"  the  owners  and  lessees  of  Luzborough,  declined 
to  give  Jackson  the  benefit  that  "would  be  derived  from 
associating  Lapdog  with  Luzborough,"  but  he  would 
consent  for  Luzborough's  get  to  meet  the  get  of  some 
"respectable"  horse.  Leviathan  he  considered  respectable, 
and  he  proposed  (omitting  details)  a  match  race  of  4- 
mile  heats  for  $5,000,  half  forfeit,  between  the  then  living 
get  respectively  of  Luzborough  and  Leviathan;  each  side 
to  name  three  horses  from  whom  a  contestant  should  be 
chosen;  the  race  to  be  run  at  Nashville  in  May,  1838. 
"Now  gentlemen,  stand  up  to  the  mark  —  no  dodging  — 
let  us  have  neither  flashes  nor  snaps." 

After  a  counter  proposition  by  Jackson,  and  a  confer- 
ence between  the  parties  at  the  Mansion  House,  adjoining 
the  Nashville  Inn,  in  April;  and  after  consultation  with 
Merritt  &  Merritt,  Virginia  owners  of  Luzborough;  and 
after  concessions  by  both  sides,  an  agreement  was  finally 
reached,  the  general  terms  of  which  were  as  stated  above. 

Pankey  named  Picton,  dam  Isabella  by  Sir  Archy; 
Leila,  dam  Sally  Hope  by  Sir  Archy,  and  another.  Jackson 
named  Sarah  Bladen,  dam  Morgiana  by  Pacolet,  and  two 
others.  The  agreement  was  reduced  to  writing,  security 
given,  and  the  issue  was  joined  between  the  House  of 
Luzborough  and  the  House  of  Leviathan.  The  news 
went  forth  and  the  talk  began. 

Picton  —  and  Leila  —  were  bred  and  owned  by  Col.  Wil- 
liam Wynn,  of  Virginia.  Sarah  Bladen  was  bred  and  owned 


1 86      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

by  Col.  George  Elliott,  of  Sumner  County.  All  of  the 
horses,  at  the  time  of  their  entry,  were  two  years  old,  with 
reputations  yet  to  establish.  With  the  hope  of  establish- 
ing Sarah's  reputation  at  once  and  for  good,  Col.  Elliott, 
in  July,  1836,  offered  to  run  Sarah  in  a  match  race,  2-mile 
heats,  the  following  year  for  $5,000,  but  his  banter  went 
unaccepted. 

Early  in  their  careers  it  became  evident  that  the  con- 
test would  come  between  Sarah  Bladen  and  Picton.  The 
making  of  their  records  for  excellence  was  like  the  building 
of  two  parallel  columns  of  apparent  equal  dimensions. 
Picton  ran  in  the  East,  Sarah  Bladen  in  the  South.  Reports 
of  the  victories  of  one  were  followed  in  quick  succession 
by  reports  of  the  victories  of  the  other.  For  two  years 
they  were  bright  stars  in  the  racing  firmament  and  kept 
the  coming  contest  in  the  public  mind.  In  addition  to 
their  parallel  of  victories,  the  bitter  controversy,  and  the 
fame  of  Leviathan's  get,  there  were  two  or  three  inci- 
dents that  fed  the  flame  of  popular  interest. 

In  her  3-year  old  form  Col.  Elliott  sold  Sarah  Bladen 
to  John  R.  Head  of  Manchester,  Mississippi,  for  $8,000, 
the  highest  price  ever  paid  for  a  3-year  old  in  the  United 
States  up  to  that  time.  Head,  about  two  months  before 
the  race,  much  to  the  surprise  of  everybody,  sold  her  to 
Thurston  &  Pryor,  of  Natchez,  for  $5,500.  Pryor  was 
Bingaman's  trainer  and  Thurston  "his  man  Friday." 
The  purchase  was  looked  upon  as  being  —  and  it  was  — 
that  of  Colonel  Bingaman. 

The  fact  that  after  leaving  Elliott's  hands  Sarah  ran 
as  the  entry  of  James  Jackson,  showed  the  public  that 
Jackson's  influence  was  at  work  in  the  management  of 
her  races,  and  that  he  was  grimly  determined  to  teach 
Mr.  Thomas  A.  Pankey  and  Rev.  Hardy  M.  Cryer  a 
thing  or  two  about  the  House  of  Leviathan.  A  knowledge 


The  Leviathans  vs.  The  Luzboroughs      187 

of  all  these  circumstances  is  necessary  to  fully  comprehend 
the  stir  this  contest  created. 

In  February,  1838,  the  three  Luzboroughs  reached 
Franklin,  Tenn.,  to  be  trained  for  the  contest,  May  22. 
Their  arrival  set  the  experts  to  figuring,  the  partisans  to 
arguing.  On  rainy  days  —  and  other  days  —  around 
cross  roads  stores,  post  offices  and  taverns,  from  February 
even  unto  May,  it  was  made  clear  to  all  attentive  listeners 
that  it  would  be  impossible  for  either  Picton  or  Sarah 
Bladen  to  lose.  Those  who  had  been  hard  pressed  by  Old 
Hickory's  —  or  Nick  Biddle's  —  panic,  now  had  a  glorious 
opportunity  to  get  on  solid  ground  again  by  heeding  the 
unselfish  advice  of  widely  divergent  experts. 

"'A  Dukedom  to  a  beggarly  Denice/  wrote  Thomas 
Barry,  in  the  letter  above  referred  to  —  "'  A  Dukedom  to 
a  beggarly  Denice'  that  Picton  gets  the  money.  Any 
colt  that  can  run  four  miles  in  7:44  and  then  be  well  up 
in  two  other  heats  run  in  7:43!  —  7:56  must  be  'the  very 
glass  of  fashion  and  mold  of  form. ' ' 

"This  affair  of  honor,"  wrote  Rev.  H.  M.  Cryer,  on 
April  2,  "has  created  an  unheard  of  degree  of  excitement 
in  the  whole  South  and  West,  from  the  mountains  to  the 
seashore;  and  really  there  is  much  at  stake,  not  only  in 
the  form  of  bets;  but  the  value  of  the  stock  owned  by 
the  numerous  individuals  in  the  get  of  the  two  horses  is 
immense.  It  is  Napoleon  with  his  legions  of  honor  vs. 
Wellington  and  his  invincibles.  Sarah  Bladen  and  Picton 
seem  to  fill  the  eye  of  every  breeder.  .  .  .  Picton  looks 
like  he  was  made  of  war-like  material.  .  .  .  And  it  is 
thought  here  by  many  knowing  ones  that  Picton  will 
lead  the  circular  dance  from  the  time  the  music  begins,  or 
that  he  will  urge  Sarah  at  such  a  rate  for  the  first  three 
and  a  half  miles  that  the  heat  of  the  furnace  will  endanger 
the  collapsing  or  bursting  of  her  boilers." 


1 88       Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

But  there  were  many  who  thought  otherwise,  as  shown 
by  this  letter  from  Lucius  J.  Polk,  written  from  "Hamilton 
Place/'  Mt.  Pleasant,  on  April  7.  "The  betting  between 
Picton  and  Sarah  Bladen,"  said  he,  "still  goes  on,  I  think 
with  increased  vigor;  it  will  be  the  most  spirited  betting 
race  that  has  ever  been  seen  in  the  Western  country;  old 
men  and  young,  'gals  and  boys/  are  all  taking  a  turn 
at  it." 

Sarah  Bladen  reached  the  Nashville  race  track  about 
May  i,  to  "await  with  patience  the  coming  contest." 
A  Hopkinsville  sportsman  who  went  to  Nashville  to  look 
over  the  field,  wrote  under  date  of  May  4:  "The  betting 
about  Nashville  seems  to  be  in  Sarah  Bladen's  favor; 
and  had  Picton  never  won  a  4-mile  race,  I  would  incline 
to  the  belief  that  Sarah  would  beat  him.  But  his  race  in 
New  York  is  hard  to  beat;  but  with  the  management  of 
Col.  Elliott,  and  the  training  of  Col.  Watson,  and  the 
strength  and  stride  of  Sarah,  and  a  sandy  track,  the 
laurels  may  be  plucked  from  the  gallant  little  Luzborough." 

This  contest  between  the  House  of  Luzborough  and  the 
House  of  Leviathan  was  the  most  important  event  in 
Tennessee  in  1838  —  in  the  estimation  of  thousands  of 
people  then  living.  For  months  before,  it  was  the  con- 
trolling factor  in  determining  plans  for  the  future.  The 
conclusion  of  the  race  was  the  time  agreed  upon  in  advance 
when  men  would  pay  their  debts.  Trips  to  Texas,  North 
Carolina,  and  Mississippi  and  other  states  were  postponed 
until  after  the  date  of  this  contest.  Horses  were  fattened 
to  sell  on  that  day,  and  the  buying  of  carriages  was  planned 
to  take  place  after  the  race  had  been  run.  Even  Cupid 
had  to  stand  aside  for  the  time  being  —  two  young  people 
in  Maury  County  fixed  their  wedding  day  for  "some  day 
after  the  race." 

These  things  were  recorded  at  the  time  as  solemn  truths 


The  Leviathans  vs.  The  Luzboroughs     189 

by  a  reputable  correspondent  in  the  midst  of  the  scenes 
and  inhaling  their  atmosphere.  This  correspondent's  wife 
made  a  special  exception  of  this  great  event  and  let  him 
leave  home,  but  only  on  condition  that  he  would  bring 
her  "a  handsome  bonnet  —  'she  needed  one*  —  and  the 
baby  a  hat."  Confident  of  his  superior  judgment  of  a 
horse,  and  overjoyed  at  her  generosity,  he  promised  to 
bring  his  wife  two  handsome  bonnets  and  the  baby  a  dozen 
hats. 

"Upon  arriving  in  town,"  says  this  unchained  husband, 
writing  in  The  Spirit  of  June  2,  "I  found  it  perfectly  full; 
at  one  of  the  hotels  I  heard  the  proprietor  telling  the  bar- 
keeper that  in  case  he  had  to  receive  more  company, 
there  was  still  room  for  six  on  the  floor.  But  still  they 
came  like  flocks  of  wild  pigeons  visiting  the  settlements; 
some  of  them  doubtless  resembling  the  pigeons  in  other 
particulars;  and  where  pigeons  abound  hawks  will  hover, 
so  of  the  latter  there  was  at  least  quantum  suff" 

From  tavern  to  tavern  flew  many  and  conflicting  rumors, 
and  many  secrets:  the  "Leviathan  party"  were  trying 
to  buy  Picton  at  $16,000  and  bet  all  they  could,  play  or 
pay,  against  him;  Picton  had  let  down  and  his  sinew  was 
like  a  hoop;  Col.  Wynn  had  been  asked  about  it  and 
had  answered  that  Picton  was  as  fine  as  silk;  Leila  was 
better  than  Picton  at  any  distance,  anyhow,  and  she 
would  be  selected  for  the  race;  and,  lastly,  there  would 
be  no  race  at  all. 

The  truth  was  that  Picton's  right  fore  leg  was  found 
to  be  sprung  which  caused  an  enlargement  in  the  tendon. 
All  efforts  to  remove  the  inflammation  and  ally  the  fever 
in  time  for  the  race  proved  futile  and  Pankey  announced, 
on  the  day  before  that  set  for  the  race,  that  Leila  would 
represent  the  blood  of  her  sire.  Then  the  betting  com- 
menced at  2  and  3  to  i  on  the  Leviathan,  which  was  freely 


190      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

taken  by  the  "Luzborough  faction."  "It  was  sinful," 
wrote  the  gentleman  above  quoted,  "the  way  the  Missis- 
sippi paper  was  planked  up;  the  start  was  delayed  until 
after  one  o'clock,  apparently  to  give  full  time  to  every 
one  to  settle  his  bets;  some  were  hedging,  but  all  was 
piled  up,  every  dollar.  A  large  portion  of  the  bets  having 
been  made  between  Picton  and  Sarah  Bladen,  and  not 
on  the  match,  were  of  course  off.  Tall  sums  had  been 
staked  on  the  event  through  all  the  South;  one  gentleman 
in  Louisiana  is  said  to  have  stood  $i  1,000  on  it." 

Sarah  Bladen  was  described  as  a  "beautiful  creature," 
well  formed,  possessing  apparently  great  endurance  and 
the  most  perfect  Leviathan  that  had  appeared  up  to  that 
time. 

The  day  of  the  race  was  cold  and  rainy,  but  an  immense 
crowd  was  on  hand.  The  Judges  were:  H.  Petway, 
Samuel  Ragland  of  Alabama,  H.  L.  Douglass  and  L.  P. 
Cheatham;  Distance  Judges,  Thomas  Alderson  and 
John  S.  McNairy;  Patrol  Judges,  W.  G.  Harding,  P. 
Higgins,  H.  Compton  and  William  Gowen;  Timers,  E.  H. 
Boardman,  of  Huntsville,  Alabama,  and  Hugh  Kirkman. 

"Leila  went  off  ahead,"  The  Spirit's  correspondent 
continued,  "but  a  few  bounds  placed  Sarah  before  her, 
Dick  exerting  all  his  strength  to  hold  her  in.  She  seemed 
to  disregard  the  mud,  or,  as  some  one  said,  ran  fastest 
where  it  was  deepest.  In  half  a  mile  the  tale  was  told,  *  the 
dog  are  dead,'  said  some.  In  a  mile  a  blanket  would  have 
covered  them  both,  provided  it  was  a  hundred  yards  long. 
Leila  struggled  hard  after  her  but  she  couldn't  shine,  and 
had  no  link  to  let  out;  she  could  not  keep  up  a  perpetual 
brush.  Sarah  came  out  in  a  common  canter,  leaving  her 
out  the  distance.  Time  8 : 50.  This  solves  the  problem  of 
the  Leviathan's  running  4-mile  heats,  to  the  satisfaction 
of  some,  at  least." 


The  Leviathans  vs.  The  Luzboroughs     191 

Thomas  Barry,  of  Gallatin,  did  not  belong  to  the  satis- 
fied set.  Immediately  after  this  defeat  of  the  House  of 
Luzborough  he,  as  champion  of  the  get  of  his  stallion, 
Cock  of  the  Rock,  threw  down  the  gauntlet  to  the  House 
of  Leviathan,  and  James  Jackson  took  it  up.  Each  named 
three  entries  from  which  number  a  contestant  was  to  be 
selected  for  a  match  race  to  be  run  at  Nashville  on  Octo- 
ber i,  as  the  opening  event  of  the  six  day  Fall  meeting. 
It  was  to  be  a  4-mile  affair  of  4-year-olds,  for  $1,000  a 
side,  P.P. 

When  the  time  came  Barry  entered  a  bay  filly  out  of 
Nell  Saunders  by  Wilkes'  Wonder,  "taken  up  but  a  few 
weeks  before  and  amiss  when  started."  Jackson  entered 
Exotic,  a  filly  out  of  imp  Refugee  by  Wanderer.  Each 
entry  carried  97  pounds.  The  track  was  very  deep  and 
heavy.  Exotic  was  the  favorite  3  to  I  and  won  easily. 
Time  9:40  —  9:33. 

At  this  same  meeting  a  match  for  $5,000  a  side,  4-mile 
heats,  between  the  get  of  Leviathan  and  the  get  of  Bert- 
rand,  was  billed,  with  W.  R.  Peyton's  Blacklock,  out  of 
Kitty  Clover  (by  American  Eclipse),  3  years,  represent- 
ing the  Bertrands  and  W.  J.  Minor's  Thrush,  out  of  Object 
(by  Marshal  Ney),  same  age,  representing  the  Leviathans. 
The  latter  being  amiss  paid  $2,500  forfeit. 

Though  prevented  from  running  against  Sarah  Bladen, 
Picton  was  yet  to  test  his  speed  and  strength  with  that 
of  a  Leviathan  and  make  amends  to  Tennessee  sportsmen 
for  the  disappointment  he  had  caused  them.  At  Nashville, 
on  Oct.  n,  1839,  in  a  race  of  4-mile  heats  for  a  Jockey 
Club  purse  of  $1,000,  the  contestants  were  Picton,  still 
owned  by  Col.  Wynn,  and  entered  by  L.  P.  Cheatham; 
Col.  George  Elliott's  Boyd  McNairy,  full  brother  to  Sarah 
Bladen,  entered  by  James  Jackson;  and  Alex  Yourie's 
Osceola,  by  Pacific,  dam  by  O.  H.  Perry,  entered  by  G.  W. 


1 92      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Cheatham.    Picton   and   Osceola,  5    years,   carried    no 
pounds,  Boyd  McNairy,  3  years,  86  pounds. 

"All  parties,"  wrote  a  staff  correspondent  of  The 
Spirit  of  the  Times,  "agree  in  pronouncing  this  one  of 
the  finest  races  ever  run  over  the  Nashville  Course. 
Picton  was  booked  to  win  it  to  a  certainty  and  was  the 
favorite  at  odds  against  the  field,  notwithstanding  that 
his  forelegs  were  sprung.  .  .  .  Osceola  had  many  friends 
from  the  fact  of  his  having  recently  won  the  4-mile 
purse  at  Gallatin,  but  the  main  dependence  of  the  fielders 
was  Boyd  McNairy,  the  own  brother  to  Sarah  Bladen. 
He  was  believed  to  be  both  stout  and  fast,  though  he  never 
ran  even  a  trial  over  two  miles.  He  is  a  fine  looking  iron 
gray  colt,  of  rather  above  the  medium  height,  with  long 
arms  and  powerful  hocks  and  quarters.  Osceola  (better 
known  as  Sheridan)  is  a  horse  of  high  form  and  finish, 
nearly  15  hands,  3  inches  high,  a  beautiful  bay  with  black 
legs  and  no  other  white  than  a  small  star.  He  is  the  hand- 
somest son  of  Pacific  we  have  ever  seen,  and  his  perform- 
ances are  calculated  to  add  new  laurels  to  the  many  won 
by  his  sire." 

Osceola  took  the  lead  in  the  first  heat,  kept  it  and  won 
easily.  He  was  jockeyed  by  McCIinchey,  from  the  stable 
of  Lucius  J.  Polk.  McCIinchey  had  ridden  the  winner  in 
three  of  the  six  races  run  during  that  week.  Before  the 
second  heat  started,  Polk  and  Balie  Peyton  bought  Osceola 
for  $6,000. 

Osceola  got  the  Iea$  in  the  second  heat,  Picton  being 
second  and  Boyd  McNairy  a  bad  third.  So  it  continued 
for  a  mile  and  a  half,  when  McNairy  went  up,  lapped 
with  Picton  for  50  yards,  passed  him  and  collared  Osceola. 
Picton  was  out  of  it.  It  was  nip  and  tuck  from  then  on 
between  McNairy  and  Osceola,  first  one  and  then  the 
other  having  the  advantage.  Soon  after  entering  the  back 


The  Leviathans  vs.  The  Luzboroughs      193 

stretch  McNairy  challenged  Osceola  for  the  lead,  "and 
after  a  spirited  burst  took  the  track  and  maintained  it 
to  the  end,  winning  the  heat  in  8:04.  The  result  of  the 
heat  caused  something  like  'a  determination  of  blood  to 
the  head'  among  the  betting  men;  the  fielders  had  already 
won  their  money,  and  thinking  to  parole  laid  it  out  at  3  to 
i  on  McNairy  with  those  of  Picton's  backers  who  were 
not  broke.'* 

And  how  were  Balie  Peyton  and  Lucius  J.  Polk  feeling 
about  that  time? 

"  For  the  third  heat,"  says  The  Spirit's  correspondent, 
"McNairy  led  off  at  a  racing  pace,  but  directly  gave  up 
the  track  to  Osceola  and  trailed  him,  laying  well  up  with 
the  intention  of  putting  the  issue  upon  a  brush.  Down  the 
quarter  stretch  Osceola  pulled  to  him  and  they  came  out 
lapped;  McNairy  took  the  track  at  the  turn  and  Osceola 
commenced  driving  him;  the  latter  drew  out  and  lapped 
him  for  a  few  yards  at  the  end  of  the  first  half  mile, 
which  had  the  effect  of  making  him  carry  on  the  running 
at  a  better  pace.  McNairy  was  two  lengths  ahead  at  the 
second  mile,  but  immediately  he  cleared  the  turn 
McCIinchey  called  on  Osceola  who  locked  him,  and  a 
desperate  struggle  ensued;  for  sixty  yards  they  ran  neck 
and  neck,  neither  seeming  to  gain  an  inch  on  the  other; 
each  Mid  all  he  knew*  and  for  a  few  moments  the  in- 
terest excited  was  intense.  But  the  game  and  stamina  of 
the  horse  at  length  told  and  he  came  in  front  and  took 
the  track.  McNairy  subsequently  made  a  gallant  effort 
to  reach  him,  without  effect,  and  throughout  the  last  mile 
the  gap  widened,  Osceola  finally  winning  at  his  ease." 

The  House  of  Pacific  had  vanquished  both  the  House  of 
Leviathan  and  the  House  of  Luzborough.  Whereupon 
Hon.  Balie  Peyton  proceeded  to  pocket  his  winnings  and 
sell  his  interest  in  Osceola  to  Lucius  J.  Polk,  at  a  profit. 


THE  PEYTON  STAKE 

"SWEEPSTAKES  OF  $5000  EACH  SUBSCRIPTION" 
"We,  the  undersigned,  agree  to  run  a  Produce  Stake  with  colts 
and  fillies  dropped  in  the  spring  of  1839,  over  the  Nashville  (Tenn.) 
Course,  Four-mile  heats,  on  the  second  day  of  the  Jockey  Club 
meeting  on  said  Course,  in  the  Fall  of  1843.  Sub.  $5,000  each,  for- 
feit $1,000.  The  rules  of  the  Nashville  Jockey  Club  to  govern  said 
race.  If  man,  colt  or  filly  dies,  no  forfeit  to  be  claimed.  Three  or 
more  to  make  a  race;  to  close  on  the  first  day  of  Jan.  1839. 

"SUBSCRIBERS'* 

"Balie  Peyton  and  J.  G.  Chalmers  name  produce  of  Black  Maria 
(by  Eclipse,  out  of  Lady  Lightfoot  by  Sir  Archy)  and  imp.  Luzbor- 
ough. 

"B.  Peyton  and  A.  Henderson  name  produce  of  Maria  Shepherd 
(Lilac's  dam  —  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  by  Shylock)  and  imp.  Priam. 

"James  Kirkman  names  the  produce  of  imp.  Eliza  (by  Rubens, 
out  of  Little  Folly  by  Highland  Fling)  and  imp.  Glencoe." 

This  agreement  was  printed  as  an  advertisement  in 
The  Spirit  oj  the  Times,  for  the  first  time,  May  19,  1838. 
The  incidents  that  led  to  it,  and  the  events  that  followed, 
make  a  notable  chapter  in  the  history  of  the  American 
Turf. 

After  a  successful  career  extending  over  more  than  a 
score  of  years,  as  a  breeder  of  thoroughbreds,  John  C. 
Stevens,  of  New  York  City,  turned  his  attention  to  yacht- 
ing, advertised  for  sale  all  the  thoroughbreds  on  his  farm 
at  Flat  Bush,  Long  Island,  and  shipped  some  of  them  in 
charge  of  his  trainer,  Isaac  Van  Leer,  to  New  Orleans, 
hoping  to  find  there  an  open  market.  Of  the  number  so 


The  Peyton  Stake  195 

shipped  was  Black  Maria,  who,  "when  fit  was  too  fleet 
for  the  fast  and  too  stout  for  the  strong."  When  led  out 
on  the  levee  at  New  Orleans,  on  March  29,  1838,  Black 
Maria  received  an  ovation  to  which  her  fame  well  entitled 
her.  If  Balie  Peyton  was  not  in  that  throng  of  welcom- 
ing admirers  his  appreciation  of  the  mare  was,  neverthe- 
less, soon  manifest;  in  company  with  his  law  partner 
J.  S.  Yerger,  of  Vicksburg  (formerly  of  Nashville),  and 
his  friend  Dr.  J.  G.  Chalmers,  of  New  Orleans,  he  bought 
her  for  $4,000,  $1,500  less  than  Stevens  had  declined  to 
take  for  her  a  year  previous. 

In  the  same  issue  of  The  Spirit  which  contained  the 
proposition,  above  quoted,  appeared  an  editorial  endorse- 
ment of  it. 

"In  Tennessee  and  Louisiana,"  Editor  Porter  wrote, 
"people  will  tell  you  that  *  whatever  Balie  Peyton  says  is 
gospel ' ;  and  he  writes  us  that  this  stake  must  be  made  a 
National  Affair.  He  thinks  Kentucky  is  bound  to  come 
in,  and  Tennessee  and  Alabama,  also.  'And  I  do  not  see/ 
writes  Mr.  P.,  'why  the  gentlemen  of  Carolina,  Georgia 
and  the  Old  Dominion  —  of  Maryland,  New  Jersey  and 
New  York  —  should  hesitate  to  join  us  and  make  this 
stake  the  most  splendid  and  attractive  ever  run  in 
America.'" 

Thus  Peyton's  proposition  went  to  the  world  in  the 
fullness  of  its  growth  and,  by  general  acclaim,  became 
"the  Peyton  Stake." 

But  the  mature  plant  had  its  real  germ  (according  to 
the  statement  made  by  The  Spirit's  staff  correspondent, 
in  his  account  of  the  race)  "in  the  rivalry  and  difference  of 
opinion  between  the  '  friends '  of  Glencoe  and  Luzborough, 
as  to  their  respective  merits,  at  the  time,  or  shortly  after, 
Picton  had  been  making  such  havoc  at  the  North.  Mr. 
Van  Leer,  the  agent  of  John  C.  Stevens,  had  concluded 


196      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

to  send  Black  Maria  to  Glencoe,  and  upon  the  subsequent 
purchase  of  her  by  the  Hon.  Balie  Peyton,  it  was  deter- 
mined that  she  should  go  into  the  harem  of  Luzborough. 
One  of  the  owners  of  Glencoe,  somewhat  nettled  at  the 
change,  immediately  challenged  with  the  get  of  Glencoe 
—  from  imp  Eliza  by  Rubens  of  the  same  year.  The 
proposition  was  accepted  and  subsequently  converted 
into  a  sweepstake,"  etc.,  etc. 

According  to  a  statement  of  Mr.  Alex  Jackson,  grand- 
son of  James  Jackson,  now  (1916)  residing  in  Mobile,  the 
Peyton  stake  originated  in  a  "friendly  game  of  Boston," 
in  Nashville.  Mr.  A.  D.  Hunt,  a  son-in-law  of  James 
Jackson,  and  connected  with  a  cotton  factory  at  Florence, 
stopped  over  in  Nashville,  on  his  way  to  Kentucky,  and 
while  participating  in  this  "friendly  game  of  Boston" 
the  conversation  turned  to  race  horses.  The  Nashville 
"Bostonians"  ridiculed  Glencoe  in  the  strongest  terms; 
at  the  same  time  they  lauded  Luzborough. 

To  season  their  conversation  they  proposed  a  wager  of 
$5,000  on  one  of  Luzborough's  get,  against  any  one  of 
Glencoe's  Hunt  might  select,  4-mile  heats,  over  the  Nash- 
ville course.  Hunt  answered  that  he  had  no  pecuniary 
interest  in  Glencoe,  nor  in  any  other  thoroughbred,  but 
that  if  the  matter  were  submitted  to  Mr.  Jackson  he  would 
doubtless  accommodate  them. 

On  his  return  to  Florence,  Hunt  told  Jackson  what  had 
occurred.  Jackson  took  up  the  matter  and  proposed  to 
make  the  contest  open  to  the  whole  world,  he  to  enter 
nothing  but  Glencoe's  get. 

In  the  one  essential  particular,  viz.,  that  the  Peyton 
stake  had  its  origin  in  the  feeling  between  Jackson  and 
the  Tennessee  lessees  of  Luzborough,  the  two  versions 
above  given  coincide  and  are  corroborated  by  the  written 
proposition  previously  quoted. 


The  Peyton  Stake  197 

The  subscribers  to  this  stake  filed  lists  of  their  entries 
with  Hugh  Kirkman,  Secretary  of  the  Nashville  Jockey 
Club.  The  3Oth  entry  was  made  in  a  letter  mailed  in 
North  Carolina  on  January  i,  1839,  an^  was  accepted,  by 
unanimous  consent  of  subscribers,  after  certificate  showing 
date  of  mailing  had  been  secured  by  the  Secretary.  After 
the  entries  were  closed  the  complete  list  was  officially 
signed  by  Secretary  Kirkman  and  was  carried  as  an 
advertisement  in  The  Spirit  oj  the  Times  for  a  year  or 
longer.  Quoting  from  Secretary  Kirkman's  official  list 
the  following  nominations  were  made  after  the  proposition 
previously  quoted  was  issued  to  the  country: 

"  4.  Col.  Wm.  Wynn  of  Va.  names  the  produce  of  Isabella  by  Sir 
Archy,  and  Imp.  Priam. 

"5.  Also  the  produce  of  Trumpetta  by  Mons.  Tonson,  and  Imp. 
Priam. 

"6.  Maj.  Thos.  J.  Wells  of  La.  names  the  produce  of  Imp. 
Pickle  by  Emilius,  and  Imp.  Glencoe. 

"7.  James  Jackson  of  Ala.  names  the  produce  of  Imp.  Delight 
by  Reveller,  and  Imp.  Glencoe. 

"8.  Col.  Thomas  Watson  of  Tenn.  names  the  produce  of  Giantess 
by  Imp.  Leviathan,  and  Imp.  Glencoe. 

"9.  John  Boardman  of  Ala.  names  the  produce  of  Imp.  Miss 
Golborne  by  Lottery,  and  Imp.  Berners'  Comus. 

"10.  Wm.  G.  Haun  of  Miss,  names  the  produce  of  Rattlesnake 
by  Bertrand,  and  Imp.  Hedgeford. 

"n.  Col.  Geo.  Elliott  and  H.  and  J.  Kirkman  of  Tenn.  name 
the  produce  of  Hibernia  by  Sir  Archy,  and  Imp.  Leviathan. 

"12.  Also,  the  produce  of  Imp.  Florestine  by  Whisker,  and  Imp* 
Leviathan. 

"13.  Maj.  A.  J.  Davie  of  Tenn.  names  the  produce  of  Imp.  Doris 
by  The  Colonel,  and  Imp.  Lurcher. 

"  14.  Henry  Wilkes  of  Md.  names  the  produce  of  Flirtilla  by  Sir 
Archy,  and  Imp.  Priam. 

"  15.  James  Long  of  Va.  names  the  produce  of  Flirtilla  Jr.  by 
Sir  Archy,  and  Imp.  Priam 

"  1 6.  P.  A.  Prindle  of  S.C.  names  the  produce  of  Aggy-Down 
by  Timoleon,  and  Imp.  Priam. 


198      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

"17.  Hon.  Alex.  Barrow  of  La.  names  the  produce  of  Lilac  by 
Imp.  Leviathan,  and  Imp.  Skylark. 

"18.  Col.  A.  L.  Bingaman  of  Miss,  names  the  produce  of  Own 
Sister  to  Betsy  Malone  by  Stockholder,  and  Woodpecker. 

"  19.  Henry  A.  Tayloe  of  Ala.  names  the  produce  of  Howa  by 
Imp.  Luzborough,  and  Mingo. 

"20.  John  C.  and  Hugh  Rogers  of  N.C.  name  the  produce  of 
Polly  Peacham  by  John  Richards,  and  Imp.  Priam. 

"21.  W.  D.  Amis  and  M.  Hunt  of  Miss,  name  the  produce  o^ 
Eliza  Drake  by  Shawnee,  and  Imp.  Chateau  Margaux. 

"22.  Col.  Wade  Hampton  of  S.C.  names  the  produce  of  Imp. 
Delphine  by  Whisker,  and  Plenipotentiary. 

"23.  W.  H.  E.  Merritt  of  Va.  and  L.  P.  Cheatham  of  Tenn. 
name  the  produe  of  Alice  Riggs  by  Imp.  Leviathan,  and  Imp. 
Skylark. 

"24.  John  C.  Beasley  of  Tenn.  names  the  produce  of  Kathleen 
by  Imp.  Leviathan,  and  Imp.  Skylark. 

"25.  Maj.  W.  R.  Peyton  of  Tenn.  names  the  produce  of  Black 
Kitty  Clover  by  Eclipse,  and  Pacific. 

"26.  John  Blevins  and  Samuel  Carter  of  Ala.  name  the  produce 
of  Miss  Medley  by  Medley,  and  Wild  Bill. 

"27.  J.  Morrison  Pindell  of  Ky.  names  the  produce  of  Marcella 
by  Alfred,  and  Eclipse. 

"28.  Wm.  H.  E.  Merritt  and  Brother  of  Va.  name  the  produce  of 
Robt.  C.  Williamson's  Imp.  mare  Pera  by  Sultan,  and  Imp.  Priam. 

"29.  Also  the  produce  of  Imp.  Bustle  by  Whalebone,  and  Imp. 
Priam. 

"30.  John  C.  Rodgers  of  N.C.  names  the  produce  of  Maria  West 
by  Marion,  and  Andrew." 

Summarizing:  Priam  stood  to  sire  9,  Glencoe  4,  Skylark 
3,  Leviathan  2,  and  the  other  horses  one  each.  The  30 
mares  were  believed  to  be  as  good  as  any  30  in  America. 

No  stake  at  all  comparable  to  this  had  ever  been  made 
up  in  this  country  or  in  Europe.  It  created  a  sensation, 
even  in  England,  and  made  Balie  Peyton's  name  familiar 
to  devotees  of  the  thoroughbred,  from  Cumberland  to 
Surrey. 

There  were  seven  chances  that  this  $150,000  would  go 


The  Peyton  Stake  199 

to  some  one  in  Tennessee,  five  chances  that  it  would  go 
entirely,  or  in  part,  to  Sumner  County,  and  three  chances 
that  a  large  part  of  it,  if  not  all,  would  be  carried  home  to 
"Station  Camp"  by  Balie  Peyton  or  his  brother,  "Ran." 
Under  such  circumstances  it  is  barely  possible  that  the 
Peyton  stake  created  as  great  a  sensation  on  Station  Camp 
Creek  as  it  did  on  the  Don,  the  Humber  or  the  Thames. 

Balie  Peyton's  anxiety,  as  well  as  his  optimism,  were 
displayed  in  letters  to  his  friend  Porter,  editor  of  The 
Spirit.  "Black  Maria  is  to  immortalize  me  yet,"  he  wrote 
on  January  10,  1839.  In  response  to  his  "anxious  in- 
quiries" his  brother  "at  home"  had  just  written  him  that 
Black  Maria,  in  the  "opinion  of  all,"  was  in  foal. 

Nearly  two  months  later  Peyton  had  the  "pleasure  of 
announcing"  to  Editor  Porter  that  Maria  Shepherd 
had  produced  Hector,  on  February  12,  and  that  Rev.  H. 
M.  Cryer,  after  viewing  his  "Sir  Archy  shoulders" 
and  "Tonson  hocks, "  had  pronounced  him,  "Sir,  a  prize." 
"The  good  news  don't  stop  here,"  said  Peyton,  "Black 
Maria  is  certainly  with  foal.  Let  old  Ironsides  send  forth 
her  artillery,  and  may  I  not  consider  the  change  mine, 
and  lay  it  out  in  a  sugar  plantation  at  once?" 

With  the  arrival  of  Black  Maria's  foal  on  April  28,  as 
announced  in  The  Spirit  by  Peyton's  sister,  Mrs.  G.  W. 
Parker,  the  only  question  to  be  settled  was  the  size  of 
the  sugar  plantation.  This  had  to  be  cut  down  as  reports 
from  the  seven  states  showed,  from  various  causes,  a  con- 
siderable reduction  in  the  number  of  possible  starters. 
But  the  winnings,  even  then,  would  be  sufficient  for  a 
fair-sized  plantation,  and  Peyton  declined  to  throw  away 
a  certainty  by  accepting  an  offer  of  $6,000  made  in  June 
for  Black  Maria  and  her  little  Great  Western. 

The  contest  took  place  Oct.  10,  1843.  "The  number  of 
the  nominations,"  wrote  "Rover"  the  staff  correspondent 


200      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

of  The  Spirit  oj  the  Times,  who  witnessed  the  race,  "the 
high  breeding  and  promise  of  the  colts,  the  character  and 
respectability  of  the  parties  concerned,  with  the  great 
value  of  the  stakes,  induced  a  great  number  from  all 
parts  of  the  United  States  to  embrace  the  opportunity  to 
visit  for  the  first  time,  the  great  western  Valley,  to  view 
her  broad,  bright  streams,  her  fertile  lands,  her  rising  cities 
and  teeming  population  —  with  steam  boats  crowding  the 
great  highway  of  waters,  like  the  market  wagons  of  the 
east  —  then  landing  at  Nashville,  one  of  the  most  pictur- 
esque and  thriving  cities  of  the  West  —  and,  as  a  finale  to 
such  a  trip,  to  enjoy  such  a  race  meeting  as  has  never 
before  occurred  in  our  country,  and  which  no  one  can  hope 
to  witness  again." 

Ample  arrangements  had  been  made  to  take  care  of  a 
large  crowd. 

The  only  unpleasant  feature  was  the  condition  of  the 
track.  Incessant  rain  on  the  yth  and  8th,  followed  by 
wind  and  sun  on  the  pth,  had  left  it  very  heavy  with  sticky 
mud.  But  the  day  itself,  "opened  delightfully.  The  sun 
shone  forth  with  cheerful  effulgence,  gladdening  every 
heart  and  brightening  every  eye.  The  attendance  was 
worthy  the  occasion.  About  10  o'clock  the  crowd  took 
up  their  line  of  march  to  the  race  course,  distant  about 
one  mile,  and  from  that  hour  until  i  o'clock  P.M.  the  road 
presented  a  continuous  line  of  pedestrians,  equestrians, 
omnibusses,  carts,  drays  and  carriages  of  all  descriptions. 
Upon  reaching  the  course  the  picture  was  perfect.  The 
stands  were  crowded  —  the  field  presented  a  dense  mass 
of  human  beings  in  the  highest  possible  glee.  The  ladies' 
stand  was  illumined  with  an  array  of  beauty  and  fashion 
that  would  have  moved  the  soul  of  an  anchorite." 

Among  the  distinguished  strangers  who  honored  the 
course  with  their  presence  were  Hon.  Alex.  Barrow  and 


The  Peyton  Stake  201 

Hon.  Balie  Peyton  of  Louisiana;  Hon.  J.  J.  Crittenden  of 
Kentucky;  Ex-Gov.  Butler,  Col.  Wade  Hampton  and 
Col.  Singleton  of  South  Carolina,  and  Maj.  John  M. 
Huger,  Robt.  Purris,  Esq.,  Capt.  Nicholas  Davis  and 
Maj.  Saml.  Ragland  of  Alabama. 

The  Judges  were  Capt.  Nicholas  Davis,  Col.  Jesse 
Cage,  of  Gallatin,  and  L.  P.  Cheatham,  of  Nashville. 
Governor  Pierce  M.  Butler,  of  South  Carolina,  and  James 
A.  Valentine  acted  as  Timers. 

When  the  bugle  sounded  the  call  at  i  o'clock  only  4  of 
the  30  nominations  came  to  the  post,  thus  reducing  the 
possible  $150,000,  of  1838,  to  $35,000. 

First  came  Alex.  Barrow's  ch.  colt  by  imp  Skylark  out 
of  Lilac  by  imp  Leviathan.  He  had  been  trained  in  the 
stable  of  H.  M.  Clay  and  was  ridden  by  John  Ford.  He 
was  1 6  hands  high,  "as  strong  as  a  wagon  horse  though  not 
so  coarse,"  in  good  condition  and  "  his  party  was  sanguine." 

Second  came  Balie  Peyton's  Great  Western,  trained  by 
Capt.  John  Belcher,  of  Virginia  (who  first  trained  Boston), 
to  be  ridden  by  Monk  (colored).  She  was  a  dark  brown, 
of  good  size,  closely  resembling  her  dam,  in  fine  condition, 
and  "her  chance  was  considered  a  good  one." 

Third,  came  Thomas  Kirkman's  Glumdalditch,  by  Glen- 
coe,  out  of  Giantess  by  Leviathan.  She  had  been  trained 
by  Isaac  Vanleer  —  who  had  remained  in  the  South  after 
selling  Stevens'  horses  —  and  was  to  be  jockeyed  by  F.  P. 
Palmer,  alias  "  Barney, "  a  native  of  New  England.  Glum- 
dalditch was  "a  chestnut  about  i6J  hands  high,  propor- 
tionately built  in  every  respect  and  in  the  most  perfect 
condition,  and  though  a  dark  nag  —  for  this  was  her 
maiden  entry  —  her  owner  and  friends  relied  upon  her 
stride,  speed  and  breeding  for  a  long  and  bruising  race." 

Fourth,  came  Wade  Hampton's  Herald,  got  in  England 
by  Plenipotentiary,  out  of  imp  Delphine  by  Whisker,  but 


202      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

foaled  in  South  Carolina.  He  was  a  dark  chestnut,  about 
15  hands  2\  inches  in  height,  handsome,  strong  and  sym- 
metrically formed.  "Herald  could  not  have  been  quite 
up  to  the  mark,"  owing  to  an  injury  in  his  right  foreleg, 
received  six  weeks  previously.  He  "was  to  be  ridden 
by  Sandy  who  had  been  brought  from  South  Carolina, 
expressly  for  that  purpose." 

The  riders  —  all  of  whom  stood  at  the  head  of  their 
profession  —  dressed  in  their  new  and  beautiful  Jockey 
suits,  displayed  themselves  and  their  horses  to  great  advan- 
tage while  cantering  up  and  down  in  front  of  the  stand, 
previous  to  starting.  They  had  no  sooner  received  their 
orders  to  mount  than  a  spirited  betting  took  place  on 
Herald  against  the  field.  The  Skylark  was  the  "second 
favorite"  at  starting. 

The  charge  of  the  starting  Judge,  Capt.  Davis,  was 
"unusually  felicitous  and  pointed.  The  riders  then 
mounted  their  horses  and  took  positions  as  above  de- 
scribed." 

The  two  colts  carried  100  pounds  each  and  the  two  fillies 
97  pounds  each.  Track  "very  muddy  and  heavy." 

"Rover's"  account  of  the  race  as  printed  in  The  Spirit 
oj  the  Times  follows : 

"  FIRST  HEAT.  —  An  excellent  start.  At  the  tap  of  the  drum  the 
Skylark  took  the  lead  at  a  slow  pace,  the  Glencoe  filly  2d,  Herald 
behind;  this  order  was  however  changed  on  the  back  stretch  by  the 
Luzborough  placing  herself  2d,  and  the  Glencoe  filly  falling  back  to 
keep  company  with  Herald,  who  was  then  some  20  or  30  yards  be- 
hind the  other  two.  In  this  position  they  finished  the  ist  mile  in 
2: 29^.  Upon  entering  the  2d  mile  the  brown  filly  increased  the  pace 
and  gave  the  Skylark  the  go-by,  leading  up  the  back  stretch  until 
the  5  mile  post,  when  Herald  apparently  mastered  Sandy  and  made 
a  brush,  leaving  the  Glencoe  behind,  and  caused  an  increased  speed 
on  the  part  of  the  leading  nags.  Upon  being  taken  in  hand,  he 
again  fell  back  to  his  partner  and  neither  of  them  made  an  effort 
for  the  heat.  At  the  head  of  the  quarter  stretch  the  Skylark  again 


The  Peyton  Stake  203 

resumed  the  lead,  and  at  the  close  of  the  2d  mile  (run  in  2:05^)  had 
opened  a  gap  of  about  20  or  30  feet.  Monk  moved  the  filly  pretty 
briskly  around  the  ist  turn  of  3d  mile,  and  getting  fairly  into  straight 
work  on  the  back  stretch,  set  sail  in  right  good  earnest.  The  filly 
closed  the  gap  before  reaching  the  home  stretch,  but  could  not  get 
in  front.  The  pace  seemed  very  slow,  in  closing  the  3d  mile  (2:11). 
The  brown  filly  again  made  desperate  efforts  throughout  the  whole 
of  the  last  mile,  but  to  no  purpose;  it  was  evident  she  was  mastered, 
and  although  the  run  she  made  down  the  last  quarter  stretch  was 
very  beautiful,  it  was  scarcely  close  enough  to  be  exciting  —  the 
hindmost  nags  pulled  up  quietly  within  the  distance.  The  last 
mile  was  run  in  2:06.  The  heat  in  8:52. 

"The  result  of  the  heat  caused  no  change  in  the  opinion  of  the 
friends  of  Herald,  and  consequently  no  change  in  the  betting  —  Her- 
ald was  still  the  favorite.  The  Skylark  was  thought  to  have  won  the 
heat  by  permission  —  the  Glencoe  filly  was  still  a  dark  nag  —  the 
chance  of  Great  Western  was  at  a  discount,  as  almost  every  one 
thought  her  hand  had  been  completely  shown.  They  all  cooled  off 
to  admiration,  and  after  the  usual  time  came  up  gaily  for 

"THE  SECOND  HEAT.  —  Tom  Mooney  now  took  Sandy's  place  on 
Herald,  who  went  off  with  the  lead  —  Great  Western  2d,  The  Sky- 
lark 3d  —  at  a  slow  pace.  The  positions  were  unchanged  during  the 
first  mile,  which  was  run  in  2:20.  On  reaching  the  back  stretch  of 
the  second  mile,  Skylark  made  play,  and  passing  Great  Western, 
locked  Herald,  who  shook  him  off  a  little  around  the  next  turn, 
and  led  into  the  quarter  stretch;  the  speed  down  the  home  stretch 
was  but  little  increased.  Herald  led  the  2d  mile  hard  in  hand  in 
2:17,  Skylark  well  up.  John  Ford  now  found  out  that  Herald  could 
not  be  handled  as  easily  as  his1  antagonist,  and  thinking  the 
gait  did  not  suit  him,  he  called  upon  the1  for  a  little  stronger 
head  of  steam,  to  which  the  animal  nobly  responded,1  dashed 
around  the  turn  and  up  the  back  stretch;  pulling  again  around  the 
turn,  he  whirled  rapidly  down  the  home  stretch,  trying  his  persuasive 
eloquence.  At  the  close  of  the  third  mile  it  was  evident  that  Herald 
'  had  the  heels  of  him '  —  the  time  of  3d  mile  2 : 08.  '  Wait  and  win ' 
was  not  now  the  order  of  the  day.  The  Skylark  commenced  the  4th 
mile  with  the  serious  intention  of  getting  home  first.  The  pace 
now  visibly  improved,  and  after  getting  into  straight  work  on  the 
back  side,  Ford  nearly  locked  Herald,  but  it  was  only  for  an  instant 
—  he  shook  him  off  readily,  and  led  him  a  length  or  more  around 

1  Original  illegible. 


204     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

the  turn.  On  entering  the  home  stretch  the  Skylark  made  another 
dash,  but  to  little  purpose  —  Herald  had  the  heels  of  him  and  came 
home  an  easy  winner  of  the  heat.  Time  of  4th  mile  —  2:05. 

"Barney  during  the  first  two  miles  of  this  heat  had  placed  himself 
in  what  might  be  termed  a  snug  position  to  take  advantage  of  any 
Jaux  pas  that  might  be  made,  or  to  run  the  Skylark  for  the  heat,  in 
the  event  of  the  inability  of  Herald  to  maintain  his  lead,  and  as 
soon  as  the  case  was  explained  to  his  satisfaction,  he  quietly  pulled 
back  and  dropped  within  his  distance  —  the  Luzborough  following 
in  his  wake.  The  heat  was  run  in  8:50. 

"The  apparent  ease  with  which  Herald  closed  the  heat,  induced 
many  to  back  him  at  2  to  i  to  win  the  race,  while  those  who  had 
watched  with  an  anxious,  and  perhaps  jealous  eye,  the  movements 
of  the  fine  Glencoe  filly,  now  thought  her  chance  of  winning  about 
30  to  100,  at  which  odds  some  considerable  amount  was  laid.  It 
was  evident  that  she  had  not  run  a  step,  and  her  superior  condition, 
and  the  skill  displayed  in  her  management,  were  alike  the  subject 
of  admiration.  In  coming  up  for  the  next  heat  she  had  cooled  off 
beautifully,  and  was  considered  by  some  of  the  best  judges  the  only 
really  dangerous  nag  in  the  race.  Col.  SINGLETON  was  free  in  the 
expression  of  that  opinion,  and  wished  with  all  his  heart  the  race 
was  at  an  end.  Herald,  too,  came  in  for  his  share  of  the  general 
approbation.  He  did  not  appear  to  mind  the  race  thus  far,  and  but 
for  the  '  dark  nag,'  looked  very  like  '  the  winner  of  the  day.'  The 
chance  for  the  others  was  considered  of  but  little  importance.  They 
are  now  saddled  for  the 

"THIRD  HEAT.  —  Herald  again  took  the  lead,  the  Glencoe  filly  in 
waiting,  until  turning  into  the  back  stretch,  when  the  Great  Western 
and  the  Skylark,  who  were  locked,  simultaneously  passed  her.  Great 
Western  then  took  the  2d  place,  and  in  this  position  they  finished 
the  ist  mile,  which  was  run  in  2:11.  Skylark  now  almost  immedi- 
ately passed  G.  W.,  and  in  swinging  round  the  first  run,  she  and  the 
Glencoe  ran  dead  locked.  Great  Western  opened  a  gap  on  the 
Glencoe  on  the  back  stretch,  and  passing  Skylark,  made  a  dash  at 
Herald,  who  shook  her  off;  she  now  dropped  back  to  Skylark,  and 
Barney  on  the  Glencoe  now  made  up  his  mind  for  mischief.  Upon 
entering  the  home  stretch,  she  went  up,  and  a  simultaneous  rush 
ensued,  Herald  still  leading  to  the  stand,  in  2:17.  Skylark  now 
tried  it  on  at  the  Glencoe  (G.  W.  dropping  behind),  and  they  ran 
nose  and  tail  to  the  half-mile  post,  when  the  Glencoe  again  gave 
him  the  go-by  and  prepared  for  a  dash  at  Herald,  which  she  made 


The  Peyton  Stake  205 

coming  down  the  home  stretch,  3d  mile.  The  speed  was  now  greatly 
increased,  and  the  contest  beautiful  beyond  description.  Barney 
did  not  quite  lap  Herald,  but  thinking  he  could  outfoot  him,  took  a 
stronger  pull  upon  the  filly,  and  placed  himself  about  a  length  be- 
hind, at  the  close  of  the  3d  mile,  run  in  2 : 07.  The  increase  of  speed, 
put  Great  Western  nearly  out  of  her  distance,  and  her  position  was 
becoming  more  unfortunate  every  step.  The  Skylark  by  persuasion 
kept  a  better  place.  On  rounding  into  the  back  stretch,  Herald 
again  opened  a  gap  of  at  least  three  lengths  upon  the  Glencoe,  which 
he  kept  apparently  without  difficulty  until  at  the  head  of  the  quarter 
stretch  At  this  point  of  the  race,  the  story  seemed  to  be  told,  but 
Barney  who  had  been  nursing  his  filly  through  all  the  back  stretch, 
where  the  mud  was  deepest,  and  through  which  with  Herald  she 
could  make  no  comparative  headway,  now  prepared  for  the  final 
struggle.  He  swung  around  the  turn  with  great  rapidity,  placed 
himself  for  straight  work  on  the  hard  path,  on  the  extreme  outside 
of  the  course,  and  taking  a  good  pull  upon  the  filly,  drove  the  rowels 
to  the  head.  The  burst  of  speed  which  followed  defies  description, 
and  is  almost  beyond  belief  —  she  locked  him  at  the  drawgate,  and 
passing  him  almost  instanter,  beat  him  home,  we  are  constrained 
to  say,  at  her  ease,  by  about  her  length,  and  distancing  Great  West- 
ern, running  the  I2th  mile  in  1:58!  The  heat  in  8:33. 

"  I  have  no  words  that  will  convey  to  you  the  feelings  of  the  mul- 
titude. The  run  home  was  made  amidst  the  most  profound  silence, 
which  was  broken  only  when  the  Glencoe  passed  Herald.  I  thought 
I  had  heard  some  little  noise  in  Kentucky  on  such  occasions,  but 
this  did  indeed  'out-Herod  Herod.'  You  have  never  yet  heard  a 
good  old  fashioned  Tennessee  yell.  You  ought  to  have  your  measure 
taken  for  one,  and  have  it  shipped  by  first  conveyance. 

"The  Glencoe's  last  effort  knocked  all  the  betting  in  the  head, 
and  almost  any  odds  went  a-begging;  in  fact,  I  saw  nothing  done  in 
that  way  after  the  heat.  Neither  Herald  nor  the  Glencoe  appeared 
to  mind  the  heat,  and  both  cooled  off  to  the  admiration  of  all.  The 
Skylark  appeared  somewhat  distressed  when  the  heat  was  over, 
but  he  came  up  boldly  for  the 

"FOURTH  HEAT.  —  This  heat  was  almost  a  repetition  of  the  last, 
Herald  taking  the  lead,  and  keeping  it  most  of  the  way,  the  Glencoe 
2d,  the  Skylark  behind,  until  the  3d  mile,  when  the  Skylark  challenged 
the  Glencoe  for  2d  place,  and  they  ran  half  a  mile  close  together,  the 
Skylark,  if  any,  having  the  advantage.  On  the  back  stretch  of  the 
3d  mile,  the  filly  and  the  Skylark  were  dead  locked,  and  Herald 


2o6     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

appeared  to  be  leaving  them,  in  fact  opened  a  gap  of  some  twenty 
yards  upon  them.  This  was  explained  by  Barney,  who  chose  to  re- 
main where  he  was,  in  the  beaten  path  which  the  horses  themselves 
had  made,  rather  than  draw  out  in  the  mud,  which  would  throw 
him  still  farther  behind.  As  soon  as  he  struck  upon  the  better 
ground,  down  the  home  stretch  of  the  3d  mile,  she  passed  the  Sky- 
lark, and  closed  most  of  the  gap  on  Herald,  who  led  until  the  last 
quarter  stretch  of  the  4th  mile,  where  Barney  repeated  his  brush, 
with  frightful  rapidity,  and  beat  him  home  by  about  a  length  in  the 
clear.  The  time  of  the  heat  was  8:52. 

"Thus  ended  the  race,  and  thus  triumphed  the  get  of  Glencoe. 
The  day  closed  as  it  opened,  and  nothing  occurred  to  mar  the  social 
harmony.  The  health  and  continued  prosperity  of  her  owner  and 
the  winner,  were  drunk  with  '  three  times  three '  and  in  honor  of  the 
stake  and  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  it  bore,  the  gallant  filly 
was  named  Peytona." 

The  Spirit  of  the  Times  of  March  23,  1839,  contains 
this  editorial  paragraph: 

"We  are  desired  to  state  that  Col.  Watson's  nomination  (No.  8 
produce  of  Giantess  and  imp  Glencoe)  was  foaled  on  the  28th  Feb. 
It  is  a  fine  filly  foal;  a  chestnut,  with  a  star  and  no  other  white: 
measuring  three  feet  5!  inches." 

The  presumption  arising  from  this  publication  and  the 
official  list  of  entries  is  that  Peytona  was  foaled  in 
Williamson  County,  Tennessee,  where  Thomas  Watson 
conducted  a  training  establishment  open  to  the  patron- 
age of  the  general  public.  Tradition  among  the  de- 
scendants of  Thomas  Kirkman,  however,  is  to  the  effect 
that  Peytona  was  James  Jackson's  entry  and  was  foaled 
in  Alabama.  "Much  could  be  said  on  both  sides." 

Giantess*  dam  was  Virginia,  by  Sir  Archy,  and  her 
grandam  Virginia,  by  imp  Dare  Devil.  From  Diomed, 
Sir  Archy,  Leviathan  and  Glencoe,  Peytona  inherited 
many  strains  of  the  best  blood  ever  known  in  the  world; 
and  yet  in  point  of  breeding  she  was  but  a  type  of  the 
Tennessee  horse  of  her  time. 


The  Peyton  Stake  207 

Peytona  was  sluggish  and  awkward  in  slow  work,  but 
when  extended  her  action  was  "express  and  admirable.'* 
Her  stride  was  said  to  be  27  feet  when  at  the  top  of  her 
speed,  but  this  was  doubted  by  some,  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  O' Kelly's  Eclipse  and  Flying  Childers  were  credited 
with  a  stride  of  only  26  feet,  while  Blue  Dick,  Boston  and 
Fashion  could  not  show  23  feet.  Her  reach  must  have  been 
unusual,  for  Judge  Thomas  Barry,  who  saw  her  run,  said 
her  majestic  stride,  as  she  came  down  the  home  stretch, 
created  the  same  sensation  on  the  mind  as  the  sight  of  a 
great  ship  sailing  into  port. i 

1  For  other  stakes  run  at  this  meeting  see  Addenda  I. 


FASHION  vs.  PEYTONA 

Up  to  1845  there  had  been  four  North  and  South  matches 
known  as  the  "great"  matches.  Two  of  them  have  been 
described.  The  other  two  were  between  Ariel  and  Flir- 
tilla  in  1825  and  Fashion  and  Boston  in  1842.  The  Ariel- 
Flirtilla  match  was  of  3-mile  heats  for  $20,000,  with  side 
bets  which  increased  the  stake  to  $30,000.  The  Fashion- 
Boston  match  was  of  4-mile  heats  for  $20,000.  Both  were 
run  over  the  Union  Course.  Flirtilla  was  owned  by 
Col.  William  Wynn,  was  financially  backed  in  this  contest 
by  Dr.  Wyche,  of  North  Carolina,  and  was  trained  and 
managed  by  Col.  W.  R.  Johnson,  who  studiously  eschewed 
lobsters  and  brought  Flirtilla  out  in  triumph.  But  his 
own  Boston  went  down  in  defeat.  The  score  now  being 
even  the  next  contest  was  regarded  as  the  one  that  would 
settle  the  long  standing  sectional  rivalry.  This  situation 
alone  would  have  been  enough  to  excite  all  turfdom. 
But,  in  addition,  the  two  contestants  —  Fashion  and 
Peytona  —  had  made  great  names;  they  were  believed  to 
be  evenly  matched;  and  the  fact  that  they,  above  all 
others,  had  been  chosen  to  throw  the  scales  to  one  side 
or  the  other,  caused  the  most  remarkable  demonstration 
ever  witnessed  on  an  American  race  course. 

Fashion  was  a  satin-coated  chestnut,  with  a  star  and 
a  ring  of  white  above  the  coronet  of  her  left  hind  foot; 
on  her  right  quarter  she  had  three  dark  spots;  was  well 
formed;  her  notable  points  being  the  muscular  develop- 
ment of  her  quarters,  thighs  and  gaskins.  She  always 
ran  with  a  loose  rein,  was  true  as  steel,  her  isposition 
faultless  —  she  could  be  placed  anywhere. 


Fashion  vs.  Peytona  209 

She  was  foaled  April  26,  1837,  and  was  by  imp  Trustee, 
dam  Bonnets  O'BIue,  by  Sir  Charles.  Bonnets  O'BIue 
numbered  among  her  victories  a  $10,000  match  with 
Goliah,  by  Eclipse,  over  the  Union  Course  in  1831.  Her 
dam  was  Sir  Archy's  daughter,  Reality,  "the  very  best 
race  horse,"  said  Col.  Johnson,  "I  ever  saw."  Col. 
Johnson  had  bred,  trained  and  run  Bonnets  O'BIue  but, 
unfortunately  for  him,  had  let  her  go  into  Gibbons'  hands. 
In  Fashion's  veins  also  coursed  the  blood  of  imp  Medley, 
Janus,  Sir  Peter  Teazle,  Highflyer,  Trumpator  and  many 
other  horses  mentioned  in  this  volume. 

Fashion  had  begun  her  racing  career  Oct.  21,  1840, 
and  up  to  her  meeting  with  Peytona  had  started  24  times, 
and  won  23  races,  14  of  which  were  of  4-mile  heats,  6  of 
3-mile  heats  and  3  of  2-mile  heats;  her  winnings  $35,600. 
She  was  trained  for  all  her  engagements  by  Samuel  Laird 
and  was  ridden  in  all  of  them  by  his  son  Joseph,  the  best 
jockey  in  the  North. 

She  had  several  times  beat  American  Eclipse's  time  in  his 
race  with  Henry;  and  in  her  bout  with  Boston,  she  had 
made  a  new  4-mile  record  for  the  United  States — 7:32^. 
Her  second  heat  she  ran  in  7:45. 

Fashion  was  bred  by  William  Gibbons,  of  New  Jersey, 
who  still  owned  her.  Like  many  other  breeders,  North  and 
South,  Gibbons  did  not  wager  money  on  any  race;  and 
he  had  no  pecuniary  interest  in  this  one.  His  tender  of 
his  mare  to  Henry  K.  Toler,  of  New  Jersey,  for  this  match 
was  like  Col..  Crowell's  tender  of  John  Bascombe  to 
Col.  W.  R.  Johnson  —  in  accordance  with  the  usage  of 
the  times. 

Peytona,  since  her  victory  at  Nashville,  had  run  only 
four  races  —  three  at  New  Orleans  and  one  at  Mobile  — 
and  had  won  all;  two  were  of  3-mile  heats  and  two  of 
4-mile  heats.  In  each  of  her  4-mile  heat  races  she  beat 


2io     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

her  own  time  at  Nashville:  in  one  she  ran  in  7:45  —  7:48 
(better  than  Eclipse  in  his  race  with  Henry)  and  in  the 
other,  8:09  and  8:00.  Her  winnings  in  the  four  races 
were  respectively,  $1,000,  $300,  $600  and  $5,500;  her 
total  winnings  being  $42,400.  She  was  still  owned  and 
run  by  Thomas  Kirkman. 

Th.e  contest  between  Fashion  and  Peytona  took  place 
at  the  Union  Course  on  May  13,  1845.  It  was  at  first 
proposed  to  make  it  a  post  match  and  for  $20,000  a  side, 
but  as  Fashion  was  the  only  horse  at  the  North  that  could 
contend  with  any  chance  of  success  against  Peytona,  her 
owner  deemed  it  his  duty  to  the  public  to  decline  giving 
his  consent  to  such  an  arrangement.  Subsequently  he 
consented  to  her  running  a  match  against  any  named 
horse  for  $10,000  a  side,  4-mile  heats.  Forfeit  money, 
$2,500,  was  put  up  and  on  the  day  before  that  set  for  the 
race  the  parties  met  at  the  Astor  House  and  each  deposited 
$10,000  with  J.  Prescott  Hall,  President  of  the  New  York 
Jockey  Club. 

Because  of  the  distance  between  the  contracting  parties 
it  had  required  a  long  time  to  arrange  all  the  details  of 
the  race.  One  of  the  men  most  deeply  interested  on  the 
side  of  Fashion  had  gone  over  the  entire  road  from  New 
York  to  New  Orleans  three  times,  and  a  large  portion  of 
it  twenty  times. 

Fashion  and  Peytona,  by  their  conquests  in  other 
fields,  having  added  lustre  to  the  fame  of  the  great  horses 
from  whom  they  descended,  had  now  come,  in  the  logical 
order  of  events,  to  try  it  out  with  each  other  in  a  fifth  great 
match  on  the  ground  made  memorable  by  the  four  great 
matches  of  the  preceding  twenty  years.  The  Union  Course 
was  twelve  miles  from  New  York  and  a  bridgeless  river 
flowed  between  them.  There  was  only  one  railway  between 
East  River  and  the  race  track  and  its  capacity  was  limited 


'  MM 


,-d 
a 
<u 

o 


Fashion  vs.  Peytona  211 

to  30,000;  the  ferries  were  slow;  the  roads  were  dusty; 
yet  notwithstanding  these  unfavorable  conditions  more 
people,  it  is  believed,  went  to  Union  Course  that  day  than 
ever  assembled  on  any  other  occasion  in  the  United  States, 
before  or  since. 

"Having  been  present  at  most  of  the  large  gatherings 
in  this  country,"  wrote  Col.  Webb,  of  The  Courier  and 
Enquirer,  "we  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  this  exceeded 
in  number  any  previous  assemblage  of  the  People.  We 
were  at  the  Ascot  races  in  England  last  year  when  London 
poured  forth  its  tens  of  thousands  to  get  a  view  of  Queen 
Victoria  and  Prince  Albert,  the  Emperor  Nicholas  and 
the  King  of  Saxony.  How  many  people  were  present  on 
that  occasion  we  do  not  pretend  to  say;  but  we  have  no 
hesitation  in  saying  that  there  was  a  larger  number  at 
the  Union  Course  yesterday." 

The  "sport  of  kings"  drew  a  larger  crowd  than  the 
kings  themselves  and  a  queen  thrown  in. 

Some  people  were  wicked  enough  to  insinuate  that  the 
annual  religious  anniversaries  in  New  York  City  had 
been  prolonged  through  dilatory  tactics  so  that  members 
of  the  different  societies  could  attend  the  race.  And  the 
crowd  would  have  been  larger  still,  if  the  official  request 
of  the  New  York  legislature,  Whigs  and  Democrats  both 
joining  in,  had  been  granted,  postponing  the  race  three 
days  until  after  the  adjournment  of  the  legislature.  As 
it  was,  Mr.  Greeley's  Tribune  estimated  the  attendance 
at  70,000;  Col.  Webb  said  there  were  between  70,000 
and  100,000  and  others  still  put  it  120,000.  One  thing 
certain  is  that  the  density  of  the  throng  prevented  all 
except  those  perched  on  high  places  from  seeing  the  race. 

The  German  turf  was  represented  by  one  of  the  barons; 
Canada  sent  its  leading  turfmen  and  newspaper  men; 
and  so  did  Louisiana,  and  all  points  between.  All  the 


212     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

leading  trainers  in  the  United  States  were  there  to  see 
how  the  thing  was  done.  Tennessee  had  its  quota, 
among  them  being  Col.  Polk,  the  Charge  to  Naples,  and 
John  Kirkman. 

The  amount  of  money  laid  out  on  the  match  was  not  so 
large  as  might  have  been  expected  —  according  to  The 
Spirit.  This  was  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  the 
"Southern  party"  expected  to  obtain  large  odds.  "In 
this,"  said  The  Spirit,  "they  were  not  only  disappointed 
but  it  is  a  singular  fact  that  in  every  section  of  the  country 
Fashion  was  more  the  favorite  than  she  was  in  this  City. 
The  greatest  odds  ever  offered  here  were  $1,000  to  $600, 
nealry  a  month  before  the  race;  for  two  weeks  before  the 
race  10  to  9  was  the  best  that  could  be  obtained;  it  was 
not  until  the  evening  before  the  race,  when  every  one 
was  'snatching  and  eager'  to  lay  out  his  money  that 
1,000  to  700  was  offered  and  taken  on  Fashion."  Just 
before  the  race  started  bets  were  made  90  to  100  that 
Peytona  would  win  the  first  heat  and  100  to  75  that 
Fashion  would  win  the  money. 

Other  reports  were  that  a  half  million  dollars  was 
staked  on  the  result. 

Owing  to  the  great  difficulty  in  clearing  the  course  in 
front  of  the  stands  it  was  nearly  half-past  two  o'clock 
before  the  horses  could  be  started.  B.  Ogle  Tayloe,  of 
Washington  City,  was  selected  as  a  judge  by  the  "friends" 
of  Peytona,  and  John  A.  King,  by  the  "friends"  of  Fashion 
—  President  J.  Prescott  Hall  acting  as  associate  and  um- 
pire. George  L.  Schuler,  of  New  York,  and  J.  H.  Hellings, 
of  the  Camden  Course,  were  the  official  timers.  In  draw- 
ing for  the  track  Peytona  got  the  inside. 

Fashion  was  the  first  to  make  her  appearance  at  the 
post;  she  was  so  much  excited  by  the  noise  and  crowd 
that  she  fretted  a  good  deal,  and  trembled  from  head  to 


Fashion  vs.  Peytona  213 

foot,  as  the  spectators  cheered  her.  Young  Laird,  her 
jockey,  was  recognized  by  a  purple  silk  jacket,  with  white 
"continuations,"  and  a  green  velvet  cap.  "Barney," 
as  Palmer  was  called,  sported  a  blue  velvet  jacket,  with 
pants  and  a  cap  like  Laird's  save  that  the  latter  had  ap- 
parently "braved  the  battle  and  the  breeze"  of  many  a 
campaign.  Peytona  had  a  most  determined  look,  and 
did  not  seem  in  the  least  "frightened  from  her  propriety" 
by  the  tremendous  din  and  uproar  around  her. 

Fashion  carried  123  pounds  and  Peytona  118. 

The  day  was  fair,  temperature  moderate,  the  course 
deeper  in  dust  than  ever  seen  before,  and  such  was  the 
crowd  that  lined  both  sides  of  the  course  the  horses  were 
as  much  shut  off  from  air  as  if  they  had  run  in  a  vast 
amphitheatre. 

The  Spirit  of  the  Times9  account  of  the  race  follows : 

"The  Judges  and  timers  took  their  places  and  the  President  gave 
the  signal  for  the  race. 

"They  went  off  with  a  beautiful  start,  and  in  an  instant  were  shut 
out  from  sight  by  the  crowds  on  the  fences  and  the  tops  of  omni- 
busses,  of  which  last  there  were  above  a  hundred  on  the  ground! 
Through  an  occasional  interstice  we  could  barely  descry  them  and 
judge  of  the  pace,  but  beyond  this,  they  were  only  to  be  seen  as 
they  came  up  the  quarter  stretch.  It  was  quite  evident  from  the 
first,  that  neither  was  disposed  to  make  a  waiting  race  of  it.  To  be 
sure  the  Judges  could  see  no  more  of  the  race  than  we  could  —  not 
so  much,  'by  a  good  deal,'  for  that  matter!  —  but  what  would  the 
readers  of  the  'Spirit'  say  if  we  gave  them  an  excuse  like  this?  Our 
only  chance  was  to  get  some  good  fellow  to  'help  us  out  of  the  snap/ 
which  we  effectually  accomplished  by  getting  our  friend  CONOVER, 
the  trainer,  into  the  stand.  He  got  up  on  the  railing,  at  the  momen- 
tary peril  of  half  the  bones  in  his  body,  and  clung  by  the  roof,  from 
which  he  could  command  a  good  view  of  the  horses  over  the  heads  of 
those  on  the  fences  and  carriages.  Side  and  side  the  horses  went 
down  the  back  stretch,  Laird  pulling  his  mare  on  the  turn,  but  mak- 
ing play  again  up  the  stretch.  The  ist  mile  was  run  in  1 154,  Peytona 
coming  through  ahead,  with  Fashion  well  up.  On  commencing  the 


214     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

2d  mile,  Fashion  forced  the  pace  again,  but  *  the  big  mare '  shook  her 
off;  after  ascending  the  hill  at  the  half-mile  post,  Fashion  again 
went  up  and  laid  with  her  this  time,  quite  through  to  the  stand, 
coming  in  lapt  on  her.  This  mile  was  run  in  i :  53.  AH  the  way  down 
the  back  stretch,  Joe  gave  Fashion  no  let  up;  the  two  were  lapped, 
and  near  the  half-mile  post  Fashion  got  such  a  tickling  from  Joe 
Laird's  heels,  as  to  drive  her  up  nearly  to  Peytona's  throatlatch! 
There  was  no  daylight  between  them  as  they  passed  the  stand, 
having  run  this  3d  mile  in  1:57;  their  rate  had  sensibly  declined  on 
the  last  quarter  of  the  mile,  and  the  friends  of  each  were  sanguine 
that  in  a  long  and  severe  brush  their  money  was  safe.  We  thought 
Fashion  weakened  in  this  mile;  at  any  rate,  she  did  not  appear  so  full 
of  running,  nor  go  so  strong  as  she  ought,  or  as  Peytona  seemed  to. 
In  the  fourth  mile,  upon  getting  into  straight  work  on  the  rear 
stretch,  Laird  set  to  work  in  earnest,  and  though  Barney  felt  the 
utmost  confidence  in  the  nonpareil  under  him,  he  was  not  disposed 
to  throw  away  a  chance.  The  claret  was  tapped  on  both  sides,  but 
Peytona's  youth,  strength  and  stride,  told,  at  last,  as  did  her  com- 
petitor's, in  her  match  with  Boston.  Before  reaching  the  hill,  Pey- 
tona drew  out  in  front,  and  the  heat  was  all  over  but  the  shouting! 
Laird  bottled  up  his  mare  around  the  turn,  and  tried  it  on  again  up 
the  quarter  stretch,  but  it  was  of  no  use;  Peytona  outfooted  her, 
and  appeared  to  win  with  something  in  hand,  by  a  length  in  the  clear, 
though  she,  as  well  as  Fashion,  got  a  taste  of  cold  steel  between  the 
draw-gate  and  the  winning  post.  The  fourth  mile  was  run  in  1 :55f, 
and  the  heat  in  7:39!. 

"One  of  our  contemporaries  is  very  naturally  pleased  at  'the 
respectability  of  the  shout'  which  greeted  Peytona  on  her  winning 
the  heat;  indeed  the  cheering  was  tremendous  from  all  parts  of  the 
course,  though  the  defeat  of  Fashion  '  smote  heavily  on  the  hearts 
of  tens  of  thousands!' 

"Both  horses  cooled  out  well;  Peytona  recovered  earliest,  but 
before  they  were  brought  up  for  the  second  heat,  she  did  not  appear 
to  have  any  advantage.  How  they  ever  got  outside  of  the  course 
or  back  again,  we  cannot  say;  the  course  between  the  draw-gates 
which  are  very  far  apart,  is  double  the  width  of  Broadway,  and  it 
was  so  densely  packed,  that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  the  horses 
were  got  back  to  the  stand  for  the  jockies  to  dismount  and  be 
weighed,  after  the  ist  heat. 

"Fashion's  friends  were  not  very  much  surprised  at  her  loss  of 
the  ist  heat,  and  we  heard  no  bets  laid  as  a  hedge.  We  subsequently 


Fashion  vs.  Peytona  215 

learned,  for  it  was  impossible  to  get  across  to  the  Club  stand,  that 
100  to  70  was  the  current  offer  there  on  Peytona's  winning  the  match. 
We  had  good  luck  in  checking  the  'devouring  flames'  of  thirst  among 
the  select  few  by  whom  we  were  surrounded  in  the  Judges'  stand. 
That  *  Good  Samaritan '  DOWNING  —  may  his  shadow  never  be  less! 
—  whose  oysters  are  the  envy  of  his  rivals  and  the  admiration  of 
his  customers,  spied  us  and  immediately  'understood  our  case!' 
He  forthwith  scrambled  over  carriages,  horses,  and  the  heads  of  all 
sorts  of  people,  and  by  dint  of  great  exertion  oftentimes  imminently 
perilous  (to  the  safety  of  our  drink!)  finally  tossed  up  to  us  a  goblet 
and  a  bottle  of  iced  Champagne!  More  than  once  we  deemed  his 
case  would  be  a  sad  parallel  to  that  of  the  'certain  man,'  who  'went 
down  from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho  and  fell  among  thieves.'  We  shall 
not  forget  Downing  until  we  are  '  turned '  into  something  quite  as 
stiff  and  'salty'  as  Lot's  wife. 

"Just  before  starting  for  the  2d  heat  we  understood  that  on  the 
Public  Stand  they  were  betting  3,  4  and  5  to  i,  on  Peytona.  We 
heard,  too,  that  Van  Leer  was  a  good  deal  alarmed  about  Peytona's 
heels;  she  had  on  very  light  plates,  and  consequently  was  somewhat 
foot  sore.  About  us  the  backers  of  Fashion,  consequently,  would 
not  hedge  their  money,  but  determined  to  'let  it  slide*  on  'the  old 
mare.'  The  backers  of  time,  however,  a  majority  of  whom  had  lost, 
partially  got  out  by  staking  their  money  on  Peytona  at  extravagant 
odds.  Thousands  of  dollars  changed  pockets  by  the  fraction  of  the 
second  in  which  the  ist  heat  was  run  under  7:40;  both  the  official 
Timers,  however,  were  supported  by  others,  a  majority  of  the 
watches  making  the  time  between  7:395  and  7:40.  A  great  number 
of  carrier  pigeons  were  sent  up  within  a  minute  of  the  close  of  the 
ist  heat,  and  the  result  was  known  in  town  in  ten  more! 

"SECOND  HEAT:  Another  good  start,  Peytona  leading  off  as  before 
around  the  first  turn,  with  Fashion  nearly  lapt  on  her.  As  they  were 
near  the  quarter  post,  suddenly  a  tremendous  shout  was  sent  up  by 
the  people  on  the  roofs  of  the  stands,  in  the  trees,  and  on  the  fences 
and  carriages  in  the  vicinity.  'Fashions  ahead! '  shouted  Conover 
to  us  —  an  exclamation  which  quickened  the  pulse  or  blanched  the 
cheek  of  more  than  one  gentleman  who  heard  it.  If  we  could  see 
little  of  the  race  during  the  ist  heat  our  range  of  vision  was  now  still 
more  circumscribed.  Mounted  men  and  carriages  were  constantly 
dashing  across  the  field  from  point  to  point,  endeavoring  to  get  'a 
show'  of  the  horses,  for  the  sides  of  the  course  were,  in  many  in- 
stances, lined  with  carriages  six  or  eight  deep!  Yet  Conover  had 


216     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

come  back  after  the  heat  to  occupy  his  old  place,  and  never  did  'a 
right  hand  man'  do  better  service;  from  his  place,  with  his  head 
above  the  roof  of  the  stand,  he  could  telegraph  all  the  movements  of 
the  horses,  and  he  really  acquitted  himself  so  well  that  the  Judges 
have  the  vanity  to  felicitate  themselves  (as  we  do)  that  they  really 
saw  the  race!  As  we  have  before  remarked,  Barney  pulled  his  mare 
out  on  the  hard  path,  and  resigned  the  deep  sand  to  Laird  if  he  chose 
to  take  it  which  he  did,  and  that  so  suddenly  that  many  supposed 
Fashion  '  had  her  sure.'  It  was  a  terrible  moment!  We  hardly  recol- 
lect any  circumstance,  save  the  bolting  of  Blue  Dick,  which  appeared 
to  give  such  an  electric  shock  to  the  spectators  of  a  race.  We  heard 
people  shout  in  Kentucky  when  Grey  Eagle  won  a  heat  from  Wagner, 
and  therefore  shall  not  brag  on  what  we  can  do  here;  the  reader  may 
take  our  word  for  it  the  noise  was  'pretty  particular  considerable/ 
if  not  more!  They  approach  the  half  mile  post —  'How  are  they 
now,  Conover?  '  '  Fashion's  not  above  a  neck  ahead ! '  '  Now  Pey tona 
gains  a  little! '  They  go  up  the  hill  —  '  It's  head  and  head  with  'em! ' 
'  Fashion  still  keeps  it '  round  the  turn  in  front  of  the  late  Club  House. 
Up  the  stretch  they  come  like  twin  bullets,  Peytona  appearing  to 
care  nothing  for  the  crowd,  to  which  she  ran  so  close  that  Barney 
could  have  hit  the  front  rank  with  his  whip!  They  came  through 
lapt,  in  1:58,  Fashion  being  a  head  and  shoulders,  perhaps,  in  front- 
Throughout  the  whole  second  mile  the  contest  was  equally  severe; 
Fashion  could  lead  by  a  neck  down  the  straight  side,  but  Pey  tona' s 
prodigious  strength  told  at  the  hill,  and  at  this  point  she  invariably 
gained.  The  second  mile  was  run  in  i :  54,  Fashion  coming  in  a  few 
feet  ahead  as  before.  The  spectators  were  hushed  by  the  thrilling 
excitement  of  such  a  contest!  Nothing  equal  to  it  was  ever  seen 
here  before!  Respiration  appeared  to  be  suspended  in  tens  of  thou- 
sands! —  their  very  hearts  seemed  to  beat  audibly,  as  if  viewing 
some  stupendous  convulsion  of  Nature!  Fashion,  though  she  could 
not  shake  off  her  dauntless  competitor,  looked  very  much  like  a 
winner,  as  she  commenced  the  3d  mile.  She  appeared  to  be  in  more 
force  than  in  the  ist  heat;  Peytona,  however,  was  apparently  not 
in  the  least  inclined  to  cut  it.  In  entering  on  this  3d  mile  Peytona 
got  such  a  hint  from  Barney  to  'go  along,'  that  she  made  a  slashing 
burst  of  it  round  the  first  turn  to  near  the  quarter  mile  post,  but  she 
did  not  gain  a  yard!  '  Fashion  will  beat  her! '  exclaimed  our  Mentor, 
in  most  lugubrious  accents,  and  between  ourselves,  'my  friendly,' 
[the  reader,]  it  would  have  just  'raised  you  out  of  your  boots,'  to 
have  witnessed  the  different  and  changed  expressions  of  the  faces 


Fashion  vs.  Peytona  217 

in  the  Judges'  stand.  We  felt  'sorry*  for  several  of  them  —  we  did. 
The  pace  was  'a  lettle  too  diggin'  to  last  much  longer,  one  would 
have  supposed,  but  then  two  such  animals  as  Fashion  and  Peytona 
never  come  together  but  once,  on  this  continent! 

"Twenty  yards  from  the  quarter  post,  we  heard,  'Peytona's 
gaining  on  her! '  *  Fashion's  ahead  a  little  —  about  three  feet  differ- 
ence ! '  '  Now  Peytona  goes  up  to  her ! '  [JThis  was  at  the  hill.]  *  She's 
head  and  head  with  her!  —  She  leads  her  about  a  neck!'  around 
the  turn,  and  they  swing  into  the  quarter  stretch,  where  Conover 
could  distinguish  neither,  but  we  could  clearly  see  Barney's  blue 
jacket,  and  occasionally  catch  a  glimpse  of  Joe  Laird's.  'Spur  your 
proud  coursers  hard,  and  ride  in  blood! '  seemed  the  order  of  the  day. 
Each  jockey  seemed  the  impersonation  of  the  Centaur  —  as  if  him- 
self and  horse  were  one!  Each  was  the  PURDY  of  his  party,  and 
each  rode  as  if  for  his  life!  It  was  a  masterly  exhibition  of  judg- 
ment, coolness,  and  science.  As  the  horses  neared  and  passed  the 
stand,  Peytona  had  the  best  of  it,  but  Fashion  was  lapt  on  her; 
they  had  run  the  mile  (the  3d)  in  i :  55,  thus  making  the  time  of  the 
three  miles  5: 47,  or  within  three  seconds  of  the  time  of  the  first  heat! 
Fashion  let  out  a  link  around  the  first  turn  of  the  4th  mile,  and  at 
the  quarter  post  was  a  neck  in  front  —  they  were  side  and  side  down 
the  stretch  and  at  the  hill  —  the  same  on  the  turn,  so  that  a  blanket 
would  have  covered  both,  and  now  both  are  out  of  sight  as  they 
swing  into  the  quarter  stretch.  '  Who's  ahead? '  '  Fashion,  I  guess, 
but  Peytona  I  hope! '  exclaimed  some  one  at  our  elbow.  No  one 
could  tell,  though  the  longest  man  could  see  best,  and  both  of  them, 
but  as  the  horses  were  coming '  head  on'  to  the  stand,  it  was  impossible 
to  say  which  had  it  —  indeed  it  looked  like  anybody's  race,  to  one 
who  had  not  a  good  eye  —  but  before  the  horses  were  out  of  sight 
Conover  remarked,  '  I  believe  Barney's  pulling  —  maybe  he's  got 
something  left  yet! '  And  so  it  appeared,  for  before  they  reached  the 
draw-gate,  Laird  drew  his  whip  on  Fashion,  and  gave  her  the  spur 
at  the  same  time.  Barney  came  on  steadily  a  few  feet  in  front,  with 
an  eye  all  the  time  on  Fashion,  but  giving  his  own  mare  a  stab  of 
the  spur  at  every  stroke!  From  the  draw-gate  to  the  stand,  the 
contest  was  as  determined  on  one  side,  as  it  was  desperate  on  the 
other!  All  at  once  the  vast  assemblage  is  quiet  —  then  you  hear  a 
shout  —  it  increases  as  the  horses  come  nearer  —  it  becomes  tre- 
mendous —  your  heart  somehow  gets  in  your  throat  —  you  try  to 
shout  yourself  —  a  thrill  —  a  whirlwind  of  excitement  —  the  winner 
flies  past  you  —  the  race  is  over!  Peytona  wins  the  heat  (time  i :  585) 


2i 8     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

and  race  without  your  hardly  seeing  daylight  between  her  and  her 
matchless  competitor !  Time,  7 : 45  \,  and  the  most  gallantly  contested, 
as  well  as  the  most  beautiful  race  ever  seen  in  this  country." 

With  this  race  the  long  series  of  North  and  South 
matches  ended  in  a  blaze  of  glory. 

Both  Peytona  and  Fashion  lived  until  the  war  period 
and  then  went  out  with  the  tide  that  had  made  them 
great.  Peytona  was  buried  in  the  garden  of  her  owner, 
A.  Keene  Richards,  in  Kentucky,  near  the  spot  where 
Glencoe  had  been  buried  a  few  years  before. 


"THE  RACE   OF   THE   OLD   KING" 

In  The  Nashville  Union  and  American,  in  1873,  Judge 
Jo  C.  Guild  first  printed  his  story  of  "The  Race  of  the 
Old  King."  Balie  Peyton  took  exception  to  that  part 
of  the  story  which  dealt  with  the  foul  riding;  and,  to  set 
matters  right,  Guild  had  the  story  reprinted  in  The 
Rural  Sun,  July  24,  1873,  with  this  explanatory  footnote: 

"Since  the  publication  of  'Long  Time  Ago,'  a  detailed  statement 
of  the  facts,  merely  touching  the  foul  riding,  has  been  furnished  by 
Hon.  Balie  Peyton,  which,  in  justice  to  him,  is  inserted  here,  as 
quoted,  in  place  of  what  I  had  remembered,  written  and  published. 
He  was  fully  exonerated  then  and  should  be  now  for  the  part  he 
played." 

After  Peyton's  death  Guild  published  "Old  Times  in 
Tennessee."  Through  oversight,  or  because  he  did  not 
think  Peyton's  objections  material,  he  put  the  story  in 
his  book,  page  88,  as  originally  printed  in  The  Union  and 
American.  The  story  as  printed  here  is  copied  from  The 
Rural  Sun,  that  part  apparently  written  by  Peyton  being 
enclosed  in  brackets. 

EDITORS  RURAL  SUN:  Reflecting  upon  the  old  times  of  Tennessee, 
I  have  concluded  to  give  a  short  sketch  of  two  races  of  Old  King 
a  saddle  horse  with  which  Judge  Guild  rode  the  circuit  when  a  young 
lawyer.  These  races  were  made  and  run  by  Hon.  Balie  Peyton  and 
Judge  Guild  in  the  fall  of  1826.  They  were  schoolmates,  young 
lawyers  together  and  were  very  firm  friends  and  are  yet. 

Now  as  to  the  first  race  of  the  Old  King. 

Young  Guild  and  Peyton  were  on  the  circuit  at  Carthage,  got  a 
few  five  dollar  fees,  and  left  for  their  residence  at  Gallatin,  taking 
the  races  at  Hartsville  in  their  route.  They  rode  very  fast  eighteen 


22O     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

miles  that  morning  to  get  to  the  races.  The  Old  King  was  a  large 
sorrel,  finely  formed,  of  immense  stride  and  powerful  action.  He 
was  fatigued  by  the  rapid  ride,  they  not  expecting  to  run  him;  but 
so  soon  as  they  arrived  they  were  bantered  for  a  mile  race  with 
Cook  Lewis'  horse,  who  had  been  in  regular  training,  for  $100  a 
side,  to  carry  100  pounds.  The  young  lawyers  accepted  the  propo- 
sition, and  the  race  came  off  in  one  hour.  They  had  no  time  to 
plate  the  Old  King,  so  they  removed  his  shoes  and  cupped  him.  He 
made  a  splendid  run  and  won  the  match  in  gallant  style. 

The  young  lawyers  remained  in  Hartsville  that  night  to  enjoy 
their  victory  and  the  next  morning  started  for  Gallatin.  Riding 
six  miles  they  came  to  Banks'  old  stand  where  they  found  some 
strangers,  and  were  again  bantered  for  a  race  of  one  quarter  of  a 
mile  for  a  purse  of  $200  a  side.  They  were  conducted  to  the  stable 
where  they  found  a  heavy  muscled,  compact  horse,  which  they 
afterwards  understood  was  a  celebrated  Kentucky  quarter-horse, 
lately  brought  to  Tennessee.  His  appearance  rather  alarmed  the 
keen  eyes  of  the  young  lawyers.  Upon  a  conference  they  knew  that 
he  was  a  stranger  in  the  county,  and,  from  his  general  appearance, 
that  he  was  a  hard  customer.  But  at  last  they  concluded  to  carry 
him  beyond  his  accustomed  distance  and  run  him  600  yards  for  $200 
a  side,  each  to  carry  140  pounds,  the  race  to  come  off  in  30  days. 
The  Old  King  was  high  spirited,  restive,  extremely  hard  to  start,  as 
well  as  ride.  Balie  Peyton,  then  being  the  best  rider  in  the  state, 
and  of  the  right  weight,  the  young  men  fixed  the  weight  with  the 
intent  to  put  up  the  celebrated  rider,  Balie  Peyton.  The  forfeit 
being  put  up  the  young  lawyers  left  the  courts  for  a  season,  and 
both  being  good  trainers,  immediately  put  the  Old  King  into  regular 
training  in  accordance  with  the  then  improvements  in  the  art. 

They  established  their  headquarters  at  Capt.  Jack  Mitchell's 
hotel,  Gallatin,  where  they  boarded.  AH  the  paraphernalia  of  a 
regular  training  stable  was  adopted  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  they 
put  the  horse  in  as  fine  condition  for  the  race  as  the  most  celebrated 
trainer  could  have  done. 

Their  old  friend,  the  eminent  John  J.  White,  boarded  at  the  same 
tavern  and  had  a  very  fine  Pacolet  riding  horse  who  had  distinguished 
himself  on  the  turf;  and  an  old  bay  afflicted  with  the  bighead,  who 
had  been  turned  upon  the  commons.  The  young  trainers  captured 
the  old  bay  and  made  him  a  pack  horse  to  go  to  mill  and  to  bring 
hominy  and  oats.  Desiring  to  give  the  Old  King  a  quick  motion, 
and  to  bring  his  driving  muscles  into  play  and  to  give  a  rapid  and 


The  Race  oj  the  Old  King  221 

quick  motion  for  so  short  a  race,  each  day  they  trotted  him  one 
hour.  The  manner  of  doing  this  was  to  place  a  rider  on  the  Judge's 
old  bay  and  run  him  at  full  speed  around  a  circle,  the  rider  leading 
the  Old  King,  making  him  trot,  giving  him  his  most  rapid  stride. 

One  evening  while  this  was  going  on  the  Judge  and  the  young  law- 
yers walked  out  upon  the  common.  The  Judge  observed  that  one 
horse  was  going  at  full  speed  around  a  circle,  the  other  following 
in  the  rear.  He  said,  "What  does  that  mean?  They  seem  to  be 
going  round."  At  length  he  said,  "Gentlemen,  I  do  believe  he  is 
the  old  bay  that  the  boy  is  riding  in  front."  They  had  to  admit  the 
fact  to  the  Judge,  and  endeavor  to  make  the  necessary  explanations. 
He  kindly  remarked,  "Now,  boys,  you  may  use  the  old  bay  mod- 
erately to  go  to  mill;  but  it's  too  bad  to  run  him  around  a  circle  in 
that  way."  They  faithfully  promised  to  comply  with  his  request, 
which  was  done. 

The  training  of  the  Old  King  went  on  satisfactorily. 

A  few  days  before  the  race  Guild  and  Peyton  desired  to  test  the 
powers  of  their  horse  and  to  break  him  to  go  off  at  the  word.  The 
only  reliable  test  they  had  was  to  run  the  Old  King  against  the 
Judge's  Pacolet  horse.  By  great  kindness  he  had  been  made  gentle 
to  ride  and  they  knew  that  the  Judge  would  not  consent  for  him  to 
be  run  with  the  Old  King.  They  concluded  that  they  would  take  them 
out  by  the  light  of  the  moon  and  run  them  600  yards.  Guild  rode 
the  Judge's  horse  and  Peyton  the  Old  King.  Many  were  the  false 
starts.  Guild  would  turn  the  Judge's  Pacolet  and  rush  by  Peyton 
on  the  Old  King  to  get  him  to  start  rapidly.  At  length  they  got  off 
together.  The  whip  and  spur  were  freely  used,  and  each  horse  was 
fully  up  to  his  topmost  speed;  the  result  was  that  the  Old  King  beat 
the  Pacolet  some  40  yards.  This  fully  convinced  the  young  trainers 
that  they  had  an  extraordinary  race  horse.  They  kept  their  own 
secrets,  pushed  their  credit  to  the  utmost  extension  in  raising  funds, 
and  then  borrowed  several  horses  to  bet  on  the  race.  They  resolved 
to  make  a  spool  or  spoil  a  horn. 

The  day  before  the  race,  which  was  to  come  off  at  Cairo,  they 
broke  up  their  stable  and  with  their  baggage  train  slowly  moved 
upon  the  battle-field  with  all  the  circumstance  and  pomp  of  glorious 
turf  racing.  They  bivouaced  upon  the  battle-field  that  night  and 
their  thoughts  were  upon  the  morrow. 

Next  morning,  like  the  chieftains  of  old,  they  looked  for  omens 
and  signs  in  the  heavens  foretelling  the  result  of  the  coming  contest. 
The  approach  of  the  great  King  of  Day  was  looked  for  with  deep 


222     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

interest  —  whether  his  great  eye  was  full  and  bright  or  covered  with 
dark  clouds.  Their  horse  was  a  red,  bright  sorrel;  the  other  was  a 
dark  brown.  The  coming  of  the  sun  was  without  a  cloud,  resembling 
the  beauty  and  brightness  of  the  Old  King,  and  indicating  success. 
This  gave  Guild  arid  Peyton  double  assurance  that  victory  would 
perch  upon  their  standard. 

Their  object  was  to  get  odds  in  the  betting,  at  any  rate  even 
bets,  as  their  capital  was  not  very  large.  In  this  there  was  some 
finessing  which  is  deemed  fair  on  the  turf. 

They  gave  out  that  they  had  no  rider.  They  weighed  one  awk- 
ward boy  and  then  another.  All  the  time  they  had  their  agents  out- 
betting  their  money  and  horses,  and  the  hour  having  arrived  to  go 
upon  the  field,  Guild  announced  to  Peyton  that  there  was  no  chance 
for  them  to  procure  a  rider  of  the  right  weight.  Then  Peyton  re- 
marked that  rather  than  there  should  be  a  failure  he  would  mount 
the  Old  King  and  ride  himself.  So  the  contestants  were  led  upon 
the  field,  and  Peyton  was  stripped  for  the  battle. 

The  Judges  were  selected  for  the  start  and  outcome.  Guild  was 
not  less  distinguished  as  a  turner  than  Peyton  as  a  rider.  Guild 
seized  hold  of  the  bit,  and  many  were  the  false  starts,  yet  he  was 
determined  never  to  let  go  until  the  start  was  a  fair  one.  Young 
Peyton,  with  spurs  and  whip  in  hand,  I  saw 

"rise  from  the  ground  like  feather'd  Mercury. 

"And  vaulted  with  such  ease  into  his  seat. 

"As  if  an  angel  dropp'd  down  from  the  clouds, 

"To  turn  and  wind  a  fiery  Pegassus, 

"And  witch  the  world  with  noble  horsemanship." 

[The  owner  and  rider  of  the  Kentucky  horse  was  a  famous  jockey; 
possessing  so  much  skill  and  tactics  in  quarter  racing  it  was  gen- 
erally conceded  that  if  once  ahead  the  race  was  his,  as  he  would 
suffer  no  horse  to  pass  him.  This  fame  greatly  encouraged  his 
backers  and  was  the  main  consideration  which  determined  Peyton 
to  ride  against  him. 

The  race  came  off  over  a  mile  track  —  no  fence  on  either  side  — 
starting  in  a  cornfield  at  the  lower  turn,  passing  out  of  the  field 
through  a  wide  gateway  into  a  dense  forest  and  up  a  considerable 
ascent  around  the  upper  turn,  to  the  finish. 

Peyton  drew  the  inside  track  —  no  small  advantage,  as  for  two 
or  three  feet  out  it  was  the  firmest  ground. 

The  Kentucky  horse  had  a  little  the  most  speed  —  just  enough 
to  enable  his  rider  to  exercise  his  strategy. 


The  Race  oj  the  Old  King  223 

The  horses  went  off  at  a  dead  lock,  under  the  whip  for  about  four 
hundred  yards;  the  other  rider,  from  the  start,  pressed  King  out  of 
his  firm  track  into  deep  ground  on  the  inside,  so  that  in  passing 
the  gate  Peyton's  knee  barely  missed  the  post.  Peyton  submitted 
to  this  foul  riding,  as  he  said,  because  he  soon  discovered  that  the 
horses  were  so  nearly  equal  in  speed  that  the  superior  size,  strength 
and  game  of  the  Old  King  placed  the  result  beyond  a  contingency. 

As  they  commenced  the  ascent  around  the  turn,  the  little  quarter 
horse  began  to  weaken,  while  the  Old  King,  like  the  iron  horse,  kept 
up  his  lick  and  was  about  to  pass,  when  the  rider  of  the  other  horse, 
as  a  forlorn  hope,  caught  the  left  rein  of  his  bridle  near  the  bit  and 
attempted  to  force  the  old  horse  into  the  woods,  amongst  grape- 
vines and  paw-paws.  Peyton,  who  was  wide  awake,  perceiving  this 
in  time,  braced  his  horse  for  the  shock  and  gave  the  rider  a  sharp 
cut  across  the  face,  saying,  "I  would  have  done  that  before,  as  you 
have  ridden  foul  all  the  way,  but  I  was  sure  I  had  you." 

Peyton  justified  the  blow  and  charged  the  other  party  with  foul 
riding,  as  was  evidently  the  case  from  the  tracks  of  the  horses,  which 
was  so  decided  by  the  judges,  of  whom  Colonel  Stepp,  of  Kentucky, 
was  one.] 

As  the  Old  King  came  to  the  Judges'  stand  a  victor  there  was  the 
thunder  of  battle  in  his  stride  and  the  noise  of  the  tempest  in  his 
wing. 

While  hundreds  of  voices  proclaimed  that  the  Old  King  was 
the  winner  of  the  purse,  there  was  a  rumbling  discontent  proclaiming 
foul  riding. 

In  these  times  it  was  of  the  first  importance  to  have  good  and 
willing  fighters  as  chiefs  of  staff  in  case  of  emergency.  Guild  and 
Peyton  had  defended  them  in  courts,  and  were  attended  with  a 
reliable  reserve.  Guild  saw  the  difficulty  and  fight  progressing  be- 
tween the  riders  and,  like  Roderick  Dhu,  blew  his  whistle  and  his 
clansmen  Johnny  Outlaw,  Bird  Fallice,  and  others  of  tried  grit, 
were  by  his  side.  They  ran  600  yards  to  the  head  of  the  stretch; 
there  they  found  Peyton  had  dismounted  and  was  heavily  pressed, 
putting  his  assailants  at  bay  with  his  drawn  knife.  Guild  announced 
to  Peyton  "Here  we  come,"  and  perfect  order  and  peace  were  re- 
established. 

The  judges  decided  that  the  Old  King  had  fairly  won  the  purse, 
and  it  was  so  awarded.  He  was  led  back  to  his  stable  with  the 
triumph  equal  in  noise  and  feeling  to  that  given  a  Roman  General 
upon  his  return  from  a  glorious  campaign. 


"A   DIPLOMAT  IN  PIGSKIN" 

Early  in  the  summer  of  1868,  J.  H.  Wallace,  author 
of  Wallace's  "American  Stud  Book"  and  editor  of 
Wallace's  Monthly,  paid  his  first  visit  to  Middle  Tennes- 
see. For  him  was  in  store  the  usual  number  of  pleasant 
surprises  that  mark  the  coming  of  all  visitors  to  this  fa- 
vored section  for  the  first  time.  The  first  surprise  that 
greeted  Wallace  was  a  few  hours  after  his  arrival  in  Nash- 
ville. 

"While  seated  in  a  hotel  dining-room,"  he  wrote,  "I  observed 
a  large  and  remarkably  fine  looking  gentleman  enter  the  room 
and  cast  his  eyes  over  the  guests  as  if  looking  for  some  one. 
He  whispered  a  word  to  the  head  waiter  near  the  door,  and 
then  started  directly  towards  where  I  was  seated!  He  was  a 
very  large  man,  of  very  commanding  presence  and  his  whole 
appearance  at  once  indicated  a  man  of  distinction  and  mark, 
even  among  the  great  men  of  the  day.  His  face  was  large 
and  smoothly  shaven,  with  kindliness  and  good  feeling  beaming  all 
over  it,  while  there  was  a  merry  twinkle  playing  about  under  his 
great  shaggy  and  snow-white  eyebrows  that  told  unmistakably  of 
his  fondness  for  a  good,  hearty  laugh.  The  whole  appearance,  and 
especially  the  face,  impressed  me  as  that  of  a  remarkable  man;  but 
I  had  not  time  for  further  observation  till  he  was  at  my  table  and 
inquired  if  I  was  Mr.  Wallace?  Upon  receiving  an  affirmative  an- 
swer, he  gave  his  hand,  and  also  his  name,  Balie  Peyton.  This  was 
a  most  agreeable  surprise,  for,  of  all  the  distinguished  Tennesseans 
then  living,  there  was  no  one  I  was  so  anxious  to  meet  as  the  Hon. 
Balie  Peyton.  When  a  boy  I  had  read  of  him  as  a  politician  and 
statesman  in  the  days  of  Jackson,  and  as  a  leader  to  the  opposition 
of  his  administration  in  the  counsels  of  the  nation.  At  a  later  period 
I  had  read  of  him  as  one  of  the  great  breeders  and  race  horse  men  of 
his  generation.  It  appeared  hardly  possible  that  the  man  who  had 
filled  so  large  a  place  in  public  affairs,  thirty  or  forty  years  before, 


A  Diplomat  in  Pigskin  225 

should  still  possess  so  many  of  the  marks  of  vigorous  manhood,  but 
the  'three  score  years  and  ten'  sat  lightly  upon  him  in  a  hale  and 
vigorous  old  age.  He  explained  that  he  had  only  five  minutes  to 
stay,  and  improved  the  time  by  pressing  me  to  pay  him  a  visit  at 
his  home,  near  Gallatin,  to  all  of  which  I  glady  acceded,  and  indi- 
cated the  time  at  two  or  three  weeks  from  that  day." 

Wallace's  few  days  at  "Station  Camp"  were,  to  use 
his  own  expression,  "literally  filled  up  with  racing  and 
political  reminiscences  of  a  past  generation."  One  story, 
especially,  had  both  a  racing  and  a  political  origin.  It 
was  the  joint  product  of  Peyton's  appointment  as  Minis- 
ter to  Chili  and  the  great  knowledge  of  all  racing  mat- 
ters affected  by  one  of  the  high  ranking  secretaries  of 
the  Chilian  government. 

This  secretary  "kept  race  horses  himself,"  wrote  Wallace,  "and 
was  known  throughout  the  country  as  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful and  accomplished  of  all  who  frequented  and  patronized  the  turf. 
He  was  a  kind  of  Napoleon  among  the  racing  men  of  Chili,  and  some 
time  after  Mr.  Peyton's  arrival  in  that  country  he  improved  an 
early  opportunity  to  escort  the  American  minister,  on  a  great  occa- 
sion, to  witness  a  contest  between  some  of  the  most  famous  horses 
of  the  country.  The  winner  belonged  to  the  secretary,  and  Mr. 
Peyton,  not  being  greatly  impressed  with  the  racing  powers  of  the 
Chili  horses,  made  some  remark,  diplomatically  conveying  that 
idea.  The  secretary  at  once  wished  to  know  if  Mr.  Petyon  thought 
there  were  any  better  race  horses  in  the  United  States?  Mr.  Peyton 
replied,  somewhat  apologetically,  that  the  American  race  horse  was 
larger  and  stronger,  could  carry  more  weight,  and,  he  thought,  had 
more  speed.  The  Chilian,  in  his  anxiety  to  catch  what  he  thought 
was  a  novice  in  racing  matters,  dropped  all  the  diplomatic  formulas 
and  came  right  to  business,  forthwith  challenging  Mr.  Peyton 
to  bring  on  his  American  horse  for  ten  thousand  a  side,  owners 
to  ride.  To  this  latter  stipulation  Mr.  Peyton  demurred,  as  he 
weighed  one  hundred  and  eighty  pounds,  and  the  Chilian  only  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty.  After  a  sufficient  amount  of  diplomatic 
hesitation,  however,  he  accepted  the  terms,  and  sent  up  to  his  plan- 
tation, in  Tennessee,  for  a  couple  of  great,  strong  race  horses  that 
he  had  bred  himself,  and  knew  all  about  their  qualities-  for  genera- 


226     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

tions  back.  There  was  a  little  stir  in  diplomatic  and  official  circles, 
as  soon  as  it  was  known  that  a  match  had  been  concluded  between 
the  great  racing  secretary  and  the  American  minister,  but  the 
people  did  not  take  much  interest  in  it,  or  treated  it  as  a  joke,  until 
the  arrival  of  the  American  horses,  when  it  became  the  excitement 
of  the  day,  and  the  sporting  event  of  the  nation.  The  original 
stakes  were  cut  up.  The  race  was  to  be  a  dash  of  four  miles,  and 
the  great  discrepancy  in  the  weights  of  the  distinguished  riders,  and 
the  possible  inexperience  of  the  American,  made  it  a  sure  thing,  in 
the  estimation  of  the  masses,  and  indeed  of  the  whole  Chili  people, 
that  the  Napoleonic  racing  secretary  must  win.  There  were  many 
foreign  vessels  in  port,  particularly  English  and  American,  and  they 
were  all  ready  to  back  the  American  horse.  As  a  matter  of  national 
feeling  the  Americans  would  back  their  representative,  and  the 
English,  having  unbounded  confidence  in  the  superiority  of  the  de- 
scendant of  the  English  thoroughbred,  brought  out  and  invested  their 
guineas  most  liberally.  The  other  foreign  nations  took  their  cue 
from  these  two  nations,  and  it  was  the  purse  of  the  foreigners  against 
that  of  the  Chilians.  The  aggregate  amount  of  stakes  was  simply 
enormous.  Instead  of  Mr.  Peyton  being  a  novice  in  racing  matters, 
and  not  knowing  how  to  ride,  as  the  Chilians  supposed,  he  had  a 
most  extensive  and  successful  experience  in  the  saddle.  When  a 
school  boy,  he  told  me,  he  had  received  more  whippings  for  running 
off  from  school  to  ride  races,  than  for  all  the  other  causes  put  together. 
He  was  sought  for  far  and  near  for  his  skill  and  judgment  as  a  rider. 
By  this  skill  he  was  able  to  discount  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
sixty  pounds  overweight  which  he  was  required  to  carry. 

"At  last  the  day  arrived,  and  the  whole  Chili  people  were  early 
assembled  to  witness  and  speculate  on  the  great  contest  between 
the  Chili  and  the  American  horse.  The  sailors  were  out  in  force, 
and  all  employments  were  suspended.  Notwithstanding  the  vast 
amounts  that  had  already  been  wagered,  there  were  still  a  few  more 
dollars  left,  and  the  foreign  element  was  able  to  meet  and  cover  them. 
The  track  was  cleared  and  the  riders  mounted;  Mr.  Peyton,  being 
on  a  great,  strong  son  of  imp  Leviathan,  dressed  in  a  closely  fitting 
jockey  suit,  looked  the  perfection  of  developed  manhood  and  grace; 
the  secretary,  dressed  in  the  style  of  the  country,  was  mounted  on  a 
grey  horse  of  great  local  reputation  for  both  speed  and  bottom. 
Like  the  horses  of  the  country,  he  was  under  size,  and  had  never 
been  tested  with  a  genuine  race  horse.  They  got  the  word  from  the 
judges  at  the  first  trial,  and  away  they  went.  Mr.  Peyton  took  a 


A  Diplomat  In  Pigskin  227 

strong,  steady  pull  on  his  horse  from  the  start,  while  the  secretary 
was  disposed  to  hurry  the  pace.  Thus  they  went,  side  by  side,  for 
about  three  quarters  of  a  mile,  when  the  great  raking  stride  of  the 
Leviathan  began  to  tell  on  the  little  grey,  and  the  secretary  did  not 
appear  disposed  to  hurry  the  pace  any  more.  Soon  after  they  en- 
tered on  the  second  mile  Mr.  Peyton  began  to  discover  the  Chilian 
was  in  trouble,  and  instead  of  hurrying  the  pace  he  was  laboring 
hard  to  maintain  it  at  the  present  rate.  After  half  a  mile  spent  in 
breaking  the  heart  of  the  little  grey,  by  coaxing  him  to  his  best 
efforts,  and  yet  unavailing,  Mr.  Peyton  began  to  let  his  horse  extend 
himself  gradually,  and  after  a  number  of  desperate  efforts  had  been 
renewed,  over  and  over  again,  by  the  secretary,  to  keep  up,  Mr. 
Peyton  let  his  horse  open  to  a  full,  running  gait,  listening  for  the 
footsteps  of  the  little  grey,  that  he  might  know  the  effect  of  this 
diplomacy  upon  him.  He  could  distinctly  hear  the  lash  of  the 
secretary,  and  a  suppressed  oath  occasionally,  but  the  sounds  of 
the  footsteps  became  less  and  less  distinct,  till,  at  the  completion 
of  the  second  mile,  he  looked  around  to  see  where  his  adversary  was, 
and  as  his  eye  fell  upon  him,  he  was  pulling  up  his  horse  dead  beaten. 
As  soon  as  the  secretary  saw  Mr.  Peyton  looking  at  him  he  dropped 
all  diplomatic  courtesy,  and  rising  in  his  stirrups  and  shaking  his 
fist  at  him  fiercely,  he  shouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  'You  go  to 
h — I.'  Mr.  Peyton  galloped  on  the  remaining  two  miles.  The 
foreigners  and  sailors  cheered  most  vociferously.  The  Chilians  were 
so  greatly  astonished  they  were  speechless  for  a  time,  and  all  Chili 
was  bankrupt." 

This  article,  first  printed  in  Wallace  s  Monthly,  late  in 
1875  <>r  early  in  1876,  was  reprinted  in  The  Rural  Sun 
of  Nashville,  Feb.  17,  1876,  from  which  paper  the  writer 
has  copied  it  through  the  courtesy  of  Capt.  B.  M.  Hord. 
Capt.  Hord,  then  editor  of  The  Rural  Sun,  called  Pey- 
ton's attention  to  the  article  after  its  re-publication  in 
The  Sun,  and  Peyton  stated  to  him  that  it  was  correct. 
If  it  had  not  been  correct  it  is  certain  that  Peyton, 
who  did  not  hesitate  to  challenge  the  statement  of 
a  lifelong  friend  about  a  youthful  escapade  of  40  years 
gone  by,  would  have  had  something  to  say  of  a  man 
who,  after  accepting  his  hospitalities,  had  written  falsely 


228     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

of  an  event  of  his  maturer  years;  and  of  his  official 
career  in  which  he  felt  a  just  and  honorable  pride.  With 
full  knowledge  of  other  versions  of  this  incident  the 
writer  deems  the  evidence  here  stated  conclusive  of  the 
facts. 

Much  is  heard  now  about  the  duty  of  the  United 
States  to  uplift  and  educate  the  people  of  other  countries. 
Balie  Peyton  anticipated  this  propaganda  by  three- 
quarters  of  a  century  —  he  lifted  the  Chilians  off  their 
feet  and  taught  them  how  to  win  a  horse  race.  That 
they  paid  him  $10,000  for  the  lesson  was  wholly  aside 
from  the  main  purpose  of  the  contest,  viz.:  to  establish 
a  reputation  for  North  American  talent  and  blooded 
stock  between  the  Andes  and  the  Pacific.  Nothing  has 
ever  happened  in  Chili  that  made  her  people  have  greater 
respect  for  the  Monroe  doctrine  than  this  exemplification 
of  the  Peyton  doctrine.  As  the  Chilians  jingled  their  coin 
into  Peyton's  coffers  they  were  fully  convinced  that  the 
United  States  was  a  "world  power." 


REMINISCENCES  OF  THE  TURF 

IN    EIGHT   NUMBERS 

From  the  Rural  Sun,  Oct.  31,  1872 -Aug.  7,  1873 

BY  BALIE  PEYTON 


I 

GREEN  BERRY  WILLIAMS  BEGINS 
HIS  CAREER 

Green  Berry  Williams,  the  oldest  living  turfman,  a 
resident  of  Gallatin,  Tennessee,  is  now  in  the  95th  year 
of  his  age.  Although  in  feeble  health  he  retains  his  recol- 
lection of  distinguished  men  and  horses  of  the  olden  time, 
in  a  remarkable  degree. 

He  is  the  third  son  of  Charles  and  Celia  Williams;  one 
of  six  children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  He  was 
born  in  the  year  1778,  on  Briar  Creek,  Burk  County, 
Georgia.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Brunswick  County, 
Virginia,  and  was  raised  on  the  Roanoke  River,  near 
Eaton's  Ferry.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Wall,  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia.  His  parents,  though 
neither  rich  nor  distinguished,  were  in  easy  circumstances, 
and,  in  personal  character,  were  among  the  most  respec- 
table inhabitants  of  the  colony. 

Several  years  before  the  commencement  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  Charles  Williams  and  two  of  his  wife's 
brothers  removed  with  their  families  to  Georgia,  where 
Green  Berry  was  born,  as  above  stated.  After  the  begin- 
ning of  the  war  these  immigrants  suffered  greatly.  Both 
the  Walls  were  killed,  the  dwellings  of  all  were  burned, 
and  their  personal  property  and  negroes  were  carried  off 
by  the  Tories  and  Indians.  Mr.  Williams  had  thus  three 
families  to  support;  with  them  he  returned  to  Virginia, 
where  he  remained  till  the  close  of  the  war,  and  then 


232     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

again  removed  to  Georgia,  where  he  died,  leaving  Green 
Berry  a  boy. 

The  eldest  son,  Noah,  was  afterward  sheriff  of  Burk 
County,  Georgia. 

The  father,  elder  brothers  and  cousins  of  G.  B.  Williams 
were  devoted  to  horses  and  owned  and  raced  some  of  the 
swiftest  quarter  nags  of  that  day,  when  quarter  racing 
was  the  fashionable  sport  among  the  first  gentlemen  of 
the  South. 

It  was  at  this  time,  when  a  small  boy,  that  Berry  Wil- 
liams commenced  his  career  as  a  quarter-race  rider,  and 
soon  became  celebrated  as  one  of  the  best  riders  in  the 
country.  He  rode  many  distinguished  quarter  horses: 
amongst  others,  Ready  Money,  a  son  of  the  famous  Twigg 
(Goode's),  a  son  of  imp  Janus.  Ready  Money  never  lost 
a  race.  On  one  occasion  he  made  a  dead  heat,  or  drawn 
race,  with  the  celebrated  Georgia  Bellair.  He  also  rode 
the  distinguished  quarter-horse,  Hunter's  String.  Quarter- 
racing  at  this  period  was  patronized  by  the  first  gentlemen 
of  Virginia  and  throughout  the  South.  We  find  well 
authenticated  accounts  of  the  pedigree  and  performances 
of  the  above  mentioned  horse,  Goode's  Twigg,  attested 
by  many  of  the  most  distinguished  turfmen  of  the  Old 
Dominion,  who  state  that  Twigg  was  a  beautiful  bright 
bay  horse,  heavily  made,  with  a  large  blaze  in  his  face, 
and  two  white  hind  feet;  14  hands  i  inch  high,  very  com- 
pact, highly  formed,  and  possessed  of  great  muscular 
power,  symmetry,  action  and  strength.  He  was  a  quarter- 
of-a-mile  race  horse  of  the  very  first  class. 

His  speed  was  unknown  to  all  his  competitors  and 
when  equally  weighted  he  was  universally  successful.  He 
won  immense  sums  of  money  and  vast  quantities  of 
tobacco.  The  only  horses  that  attempted  to  contend 
with  him  in  his  prime  of  life  were  Polly  Williams  and 


Green  Berry  Williams  Begins  His  Career      233 

Paddy  Whack.  He  ran  many  times  with  both  the  above 
horses;  and  was  only  beaten  once  by  each  of  them,  which 
was  owing  to  the  weight  he  carried,  108  pounds  to  a 
catch.  He  beat  Polly  Williams  8  times  out  of  9  for  80,000 
to  100,000  pounds  of  tobacco.  He  also  beat  Paddy  Whack 
n  times  out  of  12  for  large  sums  of  money  and  many 
hogsheads  of  tobacco.  At  one  time  he  beat  Paddy  Whack 
at  Nicholson's  quarter-race  paths,  in  Mecklenburg 
County,  Virginia,  for  80,000  pounds  of  tobacco,  10  feet, 
with  great  ease.  He  had  previously  beat  Paddy  two  or 
three  times  for  30,000  to  50,000  pounds  of  tobacco. 
Another  race  was  run  between  these  horses  at  the  same 
place,  in  1786,  for  100,000  pounds  of  tobacco;  Twigg 
carrying  20  pounds  extra  weight,  which  race  was  won  by 
Paddy  by  18  inches.  All  of  which,  and  much  more  to 
the  same  effect,  shows  the  great  interest  then  taken  in 
quarter-racing.  These  facts  are  attested  by  the  signatures 
of  John  Goode,  Sr.,  Henry  Delong,  Henry  Cradle, 

Edward  Davis, Young,  Samuel  Goode,  Jacob  Bugg, 

Samuel  Hopkins,  M.D.,  Randal  Davis  and  Thomas  Starl- 
ing, bearing  date  from  1787  to  1791. 

Uncle  Berry  inherited  his  love  of  horses,  made  his 
appearance  on  the  turf  as  a  quarter-race  rider  and  became 
one  of  the  most  successful  trainers  in  America.  He  con- 
tinued to  train  for  more  than  70  years,  passing  through 
the  dark  ages  of  the  turf  —  when  legitimate  course-racing 
was  almost  unknown  —  with  a  character  for  integrity 
and  honor  without  spot  or  blemish,  and  he  is  now  beloved 
by  his  friends  and  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 

Pope  says: 

"A  wit's  a  feather,  a  chief's  a  rod 

"An  honest  man's  the  noblest  work  of  God." 

If  this  be  true  —  and  who  can  gainsay  it?  —  Uncle 


234      Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Berry  occupies  a  place  in  the  front  rank  of  nature's 
noblemen.  Does  not  the  example  of  this  venerable  man 
demonstrate  that  a  gentleman  may  participate  in  the 
amusement  of  the  turf  without  lowering  his  character  or 
corrupting  his  morals? 


II 

WILLIAMS'   VIRGINIA  CAREER 

After  the  successful  issue  of  the  Revolutionary  War, 
turf  racing  was  revived  in  the  Southern  States  and  was 
controlled  by  men  of  wealth,  intelligence  and  high  social 
position,  among  whom  Uncle  Berry  formed  his  courteous 
manners  and  imbibed  his  incorruptible  principles. 

Regular  courses  were  established  at  the  principal  cities 
in  Virginia,  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas.  Uncle  Berry  was 
associated  with  the  most  noted  trainers  as  a  rider,  or 
assistant  trainer,  until  about  his  ipth  year,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Virginia  and  took  charge  of  some  of  the  most 
distinguished  horses  in  the  Old  Dominion.  Before  leav- 
ing Georgia  he  rode  the  celebrated  mare  called  Queen  of 
May,  beating  the  renowned  Virginia  horse,  Clitus,  4-mile 
heats,  at  Augusta.  He  afterwards  trained  and  rode 
Clitus,  beating  Queen  of  May  the  same  distance  over  the 
same  course. 

Uncle  Berry  was  quite  small  until  after  his  2oth  year, 
but  grew  to  be  a  man  5  feet  10  inches  in  height,  weighing 
165  pounds.  He  was  remarkable  for  symmetry  and  activ- 
ity and  muscular  power.  In  Virginia  he  was  first  trainer 
for  Hugh  Wyllie,  of  Charlotte  County,  and  in  the  first 
campaign  won  1,340  pounds,  Virginia  currency  —  a  very 
successful  beginning,  considering  the  small  purses  which 
were  rarely  more  than  $300  or  $400  for  3  and  4-mile 
heats.  Before  he  left  for  Tennessee,  he  met  on  the  course 
some  of  the  most  distinguished  men  of  Virginia,  among 


236     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

whom  was  Col.  Wm.  R.  Johnson,  then  quite  young,  who 
was  afterwards  known  as  the  "Napoleon  of  the  Turf." 
Among  the  celebrated  horses  trained  by  Uncle  Berry 
was  Marske  (Wyllie's),  by  Diomed,  bred  by  Hugh  Wyllie 
and  sold  to  Hon.  John  Randolph,  for  whom  Uncle  Berry 
trained  him. 

He  also  trained  Ball's  Florizel,  by  far  the  best  and  most 
vicious  race  horse  of  his  day  (if  not  of  any  day)  in  America. 
The  temper  of  this  horse  was  such  that  no  one  except  his 
groom  dared  to  enter  his  stall,  unless  he  was  chained  up. 
Uncle  Berry  ran  Marske  successfully,  and  also  won  three 
mile  heats  with  Hyperion,  at  Broad  Rock. 

Mr.  Randolph  took  so  much  interest  in  this  horse  that 
he  often  visited  the  course  during  his  training,  and  would 
sit  on  a  horse  bucket  and  pour  out  volumes  of  the  rarest 
horse  talk.  Uncle  Berry  says  he  never  met  any  one  who 
knew  so  much  and  talked  so  well  about  horses. 

Hyperion  won  his  race,  3-mile  heats,  over  the  Broad 
Rock  course;  Mr.  Randolph  was  delighted,  eulogized 
Uncle  Berry  and  predicted  that  he  would  make  one  of  the 
first  trainers  in  America.  He  offered  Uncle  Berry  $1,000 
per  annum  and  offered  to  furnish  him  a  good  house  and 
plenty  of  servants  (of  whom  he  owned  hundreds),  one 
half  of  all  he  might  win,  and  pledged  himself  to  purchase 
any  horse  that  he  might  designate  in  Virginia,  if  he  would 
go  to  his  farm,  take  charge  of  his  extensive  stud  of  thor- 
oughbreds and  train  his  colts. 

I  remarked  that  it  was  a  most  liberal  offer  and  was  sur- 
prised that  he  did  not  accept  it. 

"Oh,  yes,"  Uncle  Berry  replied,  "I  could  have  made  a 
fortune,  but  I  was  afraid  of  Mr.  Randolph;  he  was  given 
to  strange  fits  of  anger.  I  would  as  soon  have  been  shut 
up  in  the  stable  with  Ball's  Florizel,  and  he  unchained,  as 
to  have  lived  on  the  same  farm  with  Mr.  Randolph." 


Williams'  Virginia  Career  237 

The  most  important  and  interesting  races  in  which 
Uncle  Berry  participated  in  Virginia  were  a  sweepstake 
and  a  match,  each  of  4-mile  heats,  in  which  he  trained 
and  ran  Ball's  Florizel  at  Broad  Rock.  This  stake  was 
run  in  1804,  when  Florizel  was  three  years  old  and  all  his 
competitors  four  years  old  —  entrance  $500.  In  it  were 
entered  Peacemaker,  by  Diomed,  Top  Gallant,  by  Diomed, 
Lavinia,  by  Diomed  and  Amanda,  by  Grey  Diomed  (she 
was  the  dam  of  Duroc,  sire  of  American  Eclipse).  Peace- 
maker being  amiss  did  not  start.  Florizel  won  the  race 
with  great  ease  at  two  heats.  Top  Gallant  and  Lavinia 
were  distanced. 

Peacemaker  and  Florizel  ran  a  match  over  the  same 
course,  4-mile  heats,  $5,000  a  side,  in  1805,  which  was 
won  by  Florizel.  His  owner  publicly  offered  to  run  him 
against  any  horse  in  the  world  from  600  yards  to  4-mile 
heats  for  $5,000  or  $10,000. 

His  wonderful  speed  and  endurance  have  been  con- 
stantly cropping  out  in  his  descendants;  among  others, 
Boston,  Lexington,  Lecompte,  Jack  Malone,  Muggins, 
Boon,  Lightning,  Harry  Basset,  Monarchist,  and  others 
too  numerous  to  mention. 

In  February,  1806,  Uncle  Berry  came  from  Virginia  to 
Tennessee,  bringing  three  thoroughbred  race  horses  — 
Post  Boy,  by  imp  Saltram;  and  Dragon  and  Henrietta, 
both  by  imp  Dare  Devil.  For  some  years  he  made  his 
home  at  the  hospitable  residence  of  Capt.  William  Alex- 
ander, near  Hartsville,  Sumner  County,  who  was  one  of 
the  most  gallant  soldiers  of  the  Revolution.  He  fought  at 
the  Cowpens,  where  he  was  in  the  hottest  of  the  hand-to- 
hand  conflict  with  Tarleton's  men,  who  left  the  marks  of 
their  sabres  on  his  rifle,  a  weapon  that  was  long  preserved 
by  his  family  as  a  valuable  relic. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  in  this  state  Uncle  Berry  came 


238     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

into  competition  with  the  most  remarkable  man  of  the 
age  and  country  in  which  he  lived.  Of  course  I  mean 
Andrew  Jackson,  who  for  20  years  stood  at  the  head  of 
the  turf.1  In  subsequent  numbers  I  will  give  some  ac- 
count of  the  competition  between  them,  in  which  accounts 
will  be  brought  to  light  some  of  the  most  interesting  occur- 
rences of  the  Tennessee  Turf. 

1  NOTE  BY  J.  D.  A.  —  By  way  of  introduction  to  Gen.  Jackson's 
sketch  of  Truxton,  copied  from  The  American  Farmer  of  1829  into 
The  Turf  Register,  December  number,  1833,  Editor  Skinner  of  the 
Register  said: 

"General  Washington  and  General  Jackson  are  examples  of  the 
fondness  that  great  military  men  have  generally  entertained  for  the 
horse  and  the  sports  of  the  turf.  Though  equally  bold  and  graceful 
riders  in  the  field,  General  Jackson  was  most  successful  on  the 
course.  The  racing  annals  of  the  West  record  his  numerous  victo- 
ries; and  according  to  the  anecdotes  which  are  told  of  him,  he  some- 
times intimidated  his  adversaries  by  the  boldness  of  defiance,  where 
he  might  not  have  won  by  the  speed  or  bottom  of  his  horse.  He 
owned  some  of  the  finest  racers  of  his  day:  Pacolet,  Doublehead,  Trux- 
ton, the  Opossum  filly.  And  it  has  been  said,  that  though  many 
horses  were  taken  from  the  South,  in  the  full  assurance  of  over- 
matching him,  he  was  never  beaten  in  a  match  on  his  own  ground. 
Of  all  the  horses  that  won  distinction  under  his  management,  the 
unrivalled  Truxton  is  believed  to  have  been  his  favorite:  Alexander 
was  not  more  attached  to  Bucephalus.  His  system  of  training  was 
severe,  pulling  his  horse  to  incredible  hard  work  where  his  constitu- 
tion would  bear,  and  his  condition  demand  it." 


Ill 

SUMMER  COUNTY  RACES,  1804-05 

) 

Turf  racing  was  introduced  into  Tennessee  about  the 
year  1804.  The  first  race  of  note  of  which  we  have  any 
account  was  a  sweepstake  for  3-year-olds,  mile  heats, 
$100  entrance,  which  came  off  at  Gallatin  in  the  fall  of 
1804,  and  was  won  by  R.  D.  Barry's  Polly  Medley,  by 
Grey  Medley;  she  beating  Gen.  Jackson's  Indian  Queen, 
by  imp  Diomed;  James  Cryer's  Grand  Turk,  by  Grey 
Medley,  and  five  others. 

This  race  excited  great  interest  and  was  attended  by 
the  first  ladies  and  gentlemen,  who  came  on  horseback 
from  the  adjacent  counties.  Among  others  were  Gen. 
Jackson,  Mrs.  Jackson  and  her  nieces  and  namesake, 
Rachel  Hays,  the  greatest  belle  in  the  country;  and 
Gen.  Hall  and  his  beautiful  young  bride,  Polly  (the 
daughter  of  Capt.  William  Alexander  of  Revolutionary 
memory),  after  whom  Polly  Medley  was  named. 

Mrs.  Hall,  in  the  84th  year  of  her  age,  is  still  living 
at  the  old  homestead  near  Castalian  Springs,  in  defending 
which  her  gallant  husband,  who  was  as  brave  a  soldier  as 
ever  pulled  a  trigger  in  the  pioneer  struggle  for  independ- 
ence, had  many  a  desperate  conflict  with  the  Indians. 
This  venerable  lady  retains,  in  a  remarkable  degree,  the 
possession  of  her  mental  faculties,  and  has  a  vivid  recollec- 
tion of  this  race  (which  occurred  a  few  weeks  after  her 
marriage)  and  many  incidents  connected  with  it. 


240     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

When  the  horses  were  brought  on  the  course  Mrs. 
Jackson,  pointing  to  Polly  Medley,  said,  "She  is  too  little 
to  run  with  the  Indian  Queen,"  to  which  Mrs.  Hall  (then 
in  her  iyth  year  and  small  for  her  age)  replied,  "Horses 
are  like  people,  the  smallest  are  generally  the  smartest." 

When  the  horses  were  about  to  start,  a  preacher  resid- 
ing in  the  vicinity  happened  to  arrive  and  made  inquiries 
for  a  stray  cow.  At  the  tap  of  the  drum  Polly  Medley 
took  the  track  and  was  soon  a  considerable  distance 
ahead  of  her  competitors.  The  preacher,  becoming  greatly 
excited, mounted  the  fence  and,  waving  his  hat  cried  out 
at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "Look  at  Polly  Medley!  Look 
at  Polly  Medley!  Look!  she  leaves"  —  with  an  oath  — 
"a  blue  streak  behind  her."  The  enthusiastic  divine 
was  arraigned  before  his  church,  tried  and  suspended  for  a 
time.  I  have  heard  this  anecdote  related  by  my  father, 
who  was  present  at  the  race  and  a  witness  on  the  trial. 

The  race  was  succeeded  by  a  splendid  ball  given  by 
Dr.  Barry  and  his  amiable  wife,  who  were  famous  for 
their  hospitality  and  sumptuous  entertainments.  Gen. 
Jackson,  the  most  graceful  dancer  and  most  courtly 
gentleman  of  his  day,  opened  the  ball  with  the  beautiful 
bride  (Mrs.  Hall)  as  his  partner.  Mrs.  Hall  and  Mrs. 
Barry  were  sisters  and  they  and  their  families  were  ever 
on  the  most  intimate  terms  of  friendship  with  Mrs. 
Jackson  and  the  General. 

Grey  Medley  was,  I  believe,  the  first1  thoroughbred 
stallion  brought  to  Tennessee.  He  was  bred  by  Gov.  Ben 
Williams  of  North  Carolina,  purchased  by  Dr.  R.  D. 
Barry,  brought  to  Tennessee  and  made  his  first  season,  in 
the  year  1800,  at  the  farm  of  William  Donelson,  ten  miles 
north  of  Nashville,  on  the  Gallatin  Road. 

T?H     "(**?:£>     •'' >i  *•»••*/.'     'V")l     '-     rJ^)  7' » "J'jt"'    1""'"  •'• r'" /»*  i     '-}~pt    >i-f'<-    'f        >-f  ••*  ' 

1  See  pages  44,  45,  and  Addenda  D. 


Sumner  County  Races  241 

Grey  Medley  was  foaled  in  1791 ;  he  was  by  imp  Medley, 
and  had  a  pure  maternal  pedigree;  he  was  a  small  horse 
not  exceeding  15  hands  high  and  was  said  to  possess  a 
faultless  form  and  great  beauty. 

The  Arabian  blood  of  Grey  Medley  was  conspicuous 
in  the  distinguished  race  horse,  Monsieur  Tonson,  and 
his  three  brothers,  Sir  Richard,  Sir  Henry,  and  Champion, 
Brown  Dick,  and  Gamma  and  her  numerous  descendants. 
These  families  received  several  additional  strains  of  Ara- 
bian blood  through  Pacolet  (sire  of  the  Tonson's),  who 
was  by  imp  Citizen,  he  by  Pacolet  (English),  he  by  Blank, 
and  he  by  Godolphin;  the  second  dam  of  English  Pacolet 
was  by  the  Godolphin.  Mary  Gray,  the  dam  of  American 
Pacolet,  was  by  Tippoo  Saib,  whose  fifth  dam  was  imp 
Selima,  by  the  Godolphin. 

From  1804  to  1810  Lazarus  Cotton's  gray  gelding 
Greyhound,  by  Tayloe's  Bellair  (the  best  son  of  imp 
Medley),  was  greatly  distinguished  and  considered  the 
best  race  horse  in  Tennessee,  especially  at  3  and  4-mile 
heats.  He  was  under  15  hands  high,  but  able  to  carry 
full  weight  and  go  the  distance. 

In  the  spring  of  1805,  at  Gallatin,  he  beat  Bompard, 
Gen.  Jackson's  Indian  Queen,  and  others,  4-mile  heats, 
at  3  heats. 

About  this  time,  at  Hartsville,  he  beat  Truxton  (when 
out  of  condition)  mile  heats.  Ma}.  John  Verrell,  who 
then  owned  Truxton,  came  to  Tennessee,  saw  Gen. 
Jackson  and  satisfied  him  that  Truxton  lost  the  race 
from  being  out  of  condition,  and  the  General  made  a 
match  on  him  against  Greyhound  for  $5,000;  to  be  run  on 
the  same  course,  mile  heats.  Maj.  Verrell  was  interested 
in  the  match  and  trained  Truxton,  who  won  the  race, 
beating  his  game  little  competitor,  an  aged  horse,  and 
inferior  in  speed  to  his  large,  muscular,  young  antagonist. 


242     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

No  contest  on  the  soil  of  Tennessee  has  ever  been  so 
exciting  or  caused  so  much  betting,  considering  the  means 
of  the  people,  as  this  race.  Hundreds  of  horses  and  nu- 
merous 640  acre  tracts  of  land  were  staked  on  the  result. 
The  old  pioneers,  who  were  accustomed  to  quarter-racing, 
and  had  witnessed  the  indomitable  game  and  great  success 
of  Greyhound,  bet  their  horses  and  lands  upon  him  with 
the  utmost  confidence.  When  the  race  was  over  there 
was  a  general  inquiry  of,  "Will  you  carry  my  saddle 
home  for  me?"  and  "Does  your  horse  carry  double?" 

In  the  fall  of  1805  Capt.  Joseph  Erwin  offered  to  run 
his  horse,  Tanner,  a  son  of  imp  Tanner,  against  any  horse 
in  the  world,  4-mile  heats,  for  $5,000  a  side,  the  person 
accepting  the  bet  to  name  at  the  post.  Gen.  Jackson 
accepted  the  banter  and  trained  16  horses,  Truxton  and 
Greyhound  among  them.  He  started  Greyhound  and  won 
the  race  at  three  heats  over  the  Clover  Bottom  Course. 

At  the  same  time  and  place  Gen.  Jackson  had  a 
match  of  $2,000  a  side  in  cash  notes  on  Truxton,  against 
Capt.  Erwin's  Ploughboy,  2-mile  heats;  but  Ploughboy 
being  amiss  Capt.  Erwin  paid  the  forfeit.  A  misun- 
derstanding arose  concerning  this  last  mentioned  race, 
which  was  the  occasion,  but  not  the  cause,  of  the  fatal 
duel  between  Gen.  Jackson  and  Mr.  Dickinson. 


IV 

PRESIDENT  JACKSON'S  ORDERS  AND 
REMINISCENCES 

In  the  spring  of  1834,  while  a  member  of  Congress,  I 
was  invited  by  my  friend  Maj.  A.  J.  Donelson,  private 
secretary  of  President  Jackson,  to  visit  without  ceremony 
the  stable  of  horses  then  being  trained  at  Washington  by 
himself  and  Maj.  T.  P.  Andrews  of  the  United  States 
Army,  consisting  of  Busirus,  by  Eclipse,  owned  by  C. 
Irvine;  Emily,  by  Ratler,  Lady  Nashville,  belonging  to 
Maj.  Donelson,  and  Bolivia,  owned  by  Gen.  Jackson.1 

I  assisted  in  timing  all  the  "trial  runs"  of  the  stable. 
As  the  race  meeting  drew  near,  Maj.  Donelson  called  to 
notify  me  that  the  last  and  most  important  run  would 
take  place  on  the  following  morning,  urging  me  to  be  on 
hand  and  saying  the  General  and  Mr.  Van  Buren  (the 
Vice-President)  would  be  present. 

1  NOTE  BY  J.  D.  A.  —  In  a  letter  written  from  the  White  House 
February  18,  1832,  by  A.  J.  Donelson,  to  Stockley  Donelson,  this 
statement  appears:  "As  to  the  colt  training,  the  proper  instructions 
have  been  sent  to  Mr.  Steele  [overseer  at  the  Hermitage]  who  will 
no  doubt  execute  them  so  far  as  to  give  Alexander  the  means.  I  do 
not  understand  your  meaning  when  you  say  it  won't  do  to  bring  them 
on  to  Baltimore.  If  they  are  promising  and  worth  the  price  which 
Uncle  [President  Jackson]  has  put  upon  them  and  which  he  has 
been  offered  for  two  of  them,  I  cannot  see  any  difficulty  in  the  way 
.  .  .  and  do  not  fear  the  consequences  of  its  being  known  that  the 
President  has  consented  to  have  his  horses  trained  and  raced  if 
there  is  a  prospect  of  his  winning.  I  can  assure  you  that  injury  on 
this  score  is  imaginary,  and  has  long  since  ceased  to  be  harmful." 


244     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Galloping  out  I  overtook  the  party.  The  General  was 
as  calm  as  a  summer  morning.  On  our  arrival  the  horses 
were  brought  out,  stripped  and  saddled  for  the  gallop. 
Busirus,  an  immense  animal,  and  of  prodigious  muscular 
power,  became  furious  and  unmanageable,  requiring  two 
men  to  hold  him  for  Jesse,  Maj.  D.'s  colored  boy,  to 
mount.  As  soon  as  Busirus  began  "kerlariping"  Gen. 
Jackson  fired  up,  took  command,  and  issued  orders  to 
everybody.  To  the  trainer  he  said,  "Why  don't  you  break 
him  of  those  tricks?  I  could  do  it  in  an  hour." 

Rarey1  could  not  have  done  it  in  a  week. 

I  had  dismounted,  prepared  my  watch,  and  taken  my 
place  immediately  below  the  Judges'  stand  for  the  purpose 
of  timing.  The  General  and  Mr.  Van  Buren  remained 
on  their  horses  in  the  rear  of  the  stand  —  a  safe  and  con- 
venient position,  as  the  quarter  stretch  was  enclosed  on 
both  sides  down  to  the  stand,  no  other  part  of  the  course 
being  enclosed  on  the  inside.  The  General,  greatly  excited, 
was  watching  Busirus  and  commanding  everybody.  He 
said  to  me,  "Why  don't  you  take  your  position  there; 
you  ought  to  know  where  to  stand  to  time  a  horse"  — 
pointing  to  the  place  I  intended  to  occupy  in  due  time. 
I  toed  the  mark,  lever  in  hand,  without  saying  a  word  — 
nobody  ever  jawed  back  at  Old  Hickory  when  he  was  in 
one  of  his  ways. 

Busirus  was  still  "kerlariping." 

"Hold  him,  Jesse!  Don't  let  him  break  down  the 
fence.  Now  bring  'em  up  and  give  'em  a  fair  start."  And 
flashing  his  eye  from  the  enraged  horse  to  Mr.  Van  Buren, 
who  had  left  his  safe  position  in  the  rear  and  ridden  almost 
into  the  track  below  the  stand,  he  stormed  out,  "Get 
behind  me,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  they  will  run  over  you,  sir." 

1  A  famous  horse  tamer  of  that  period. 


President  Jackson's  Reminiscences       245 

Mr.  Van  Buren  obeyed  orders  promptly,  as  the  timer 
had  done  a  moment  before. 

This  was  one  of  the  anecdotes  current  among  the  stump- 
speakers  of  Tennessee  in  the  Presidential  canvass  of  1836, 
between  Mr.  Van  Buren  and  Judge  White,  to  illustrate 
Gen.  Jackson's  fatherly  protection  of  Mr.  Van  Buren. 

Lady  Nashville  and  Bolivia  were  next  brought  out, 
and  demeaned  themselves  in  a  most  becoming  manner. 
The  trials  were  highly  satisfactory  and  greatly  pleased 
the  General,  whose  filly,  Bolivia,  a  descendant  of  his 
favorite  horse,  Truxton,  was  to  run  in  an  important  sweep- 
stake at  the  coming  meeting  at  Washington.  He  left 
the  course  in  the  finest  humor,  and  on  his  way  to  the 
White  House  he  gave  us,  in  a  torrent-like  manner,  his 
early  turf  experience  in  Tennessee. 

He  was  the  most  fluent,  impressive  and  eloquent  con- 
versationalist I  ever  met,  and  in  any  company  took  the 
lead  in  conversation.  Nobody  ever  seemed  disposed  to 
talk  where  he  was.  On  this  occasion  I  found  him  especially 
interesting  —  going  back  to  the  race  of  Truxton  and 
Greyhound  at  Hartsville,  in  1805,  and  coming  up  to  the 
great  match  between  his  horse  Doublehead  and  Col. 
Newton  Cannon's  Expectation,  which  was  run  about  181 1 
over  the  Clover  Bottom  Course,  4-mile  heats,  for  $5,000 
a  side,  Doublehead  being  the  winner.1 

1  NOTE  BY  J.  D.  A.  —  In  his  racing  contests  Jackson  seems  to 
have  been  more  successful  in  defeating  his  enemies  than  his  friends. 
Newton  Cannon  was  a  member  of  the  jury  that  acquitted  Magness 
(or  Magnus)  indicted  on  the  charge  of  murdering  William  Patton 
Anderson  in  Franklin  in  1810.  Whereupon  Jackson,  who  had  taken 
an  active  interest  in  behalf  of  the  prosecution  and  had  testified  for 
Anderson,  informed  Cannon  that  he  was  a  "marked  man."  In  the 
race  referred  to  by  Peyton,  Cannon  lost  all  his  hard-earned  savings 
and  had  to  begin  life  anew.  In  spite  of  Jackson's  "marking"  and  life- 
long opposition  Cannon  achieved  distinction  as  one  of  the  strong  men 
of  his  time.  He  served  several  terms  in  Congress  and  was  Governor. 


246     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

He  alluded  to  the  intense  excitement  and  extravagant 
betting  on  the  Truxton  and  Greyhound  race;  said  that 
besides  the  main  bet,  he  won  $1,500  in  wearing  apparel, 
and  that  his  friend  Patton  Anderson,  after  betting  all  his 
money  and  the  horse  he  rode  to  the  race,  staked  15  of  the 
finest  horses  on  the  ground  belonging  to  other  persons, 
many  of  them  having  ladies  saddles  on  their  backs. 
"Now,"  said  he,  "I  would  not  have  done  that  for  the 
world,  but  Patton  did  it,  and  as  he  won,  and  treated  to  a 
whole  barrel  of  cider  and  a  basket  full  of  ginger  cakes,  he 
made  it  all  right." 

He  recounted  a  thrilling  incident,  also,  which  occurred 
at  Clover  Bottom,  after  the  race  of  Doublehead  and 
Expectation,  which  illustrated  his  maxim  that  "rashness 
sometimes  is  policy,  and  then  I  am  rash." 

"After  the  race,"  said  he,  "I  went  to  the  stable  to  see 
the  old  horse  cooled  off  (it  was  near  the  proprietor's 
dwelling),  and  about  dusk,  I  observed  Patton  Anderson 
approaching  in  a  brisk  walk,  pursued  by  a  crowd  of  excited 
men,  with  several  of  whom  I  was  aware  he  had  an  old 
feud.  I  was  bound  to  make  common  cause  with  Patton, 
and  I  knew  that  unless  I  could  check  them  we  would  both 
be  roughly  handled.  I  met  them  at  the  stile  and  protested 
against  their  course  as  unmanly,  and  pledged  myself  that 
Patton  would  meet  any  one  of  them  at  sunrise  the  next 
morning  and  give  satisfaction,  thus  delaying  them  until 
Patton  had  passed  into  the  house. 

"But  the  leaders  of  the  crowd  swore  they  intended  to 
kill  him,  and  I  saw  there  remained  but  one  chance  for  us, 
and  that  was  to  bluff  them  off.  I  knew  they  had  no  cause 
of  quarrel  with  me,  and  that  they  supposed  I  was  armed. 
Putting  my  hand  behind  me,  into  my  coat  pocket,  I 
opened  a  tin  tobacco  box,  my  only  weapon,  and  said,  'I 
will  shoot  dead  the  first  man  who  attempts  to  cross  that 


President  Jackson  s  Reminiscences       247 

fence';  and  as  their  leader  placed  his  foot  on  the  first 
step,  I  raised  my  arm  and  closed  the  box  with  a  click, 
very  like  the  cocking  of  a  pistol,  —  it  was  so  dark  they 
could  not  distinguish  what  I  had  in  my  hand,  —  and,  sir, 
they  scampered  like  a  flock  of  deer.  I  knew  there  were 
men  in  that  crowd  who  were  not  afraid  to  meet  me  or 
any  other  man;  but,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  no  man  is  willing 
to  take  the  chance  of  being  killed  by  an  accidental  shot  in 
the  dark." 

I  am  aware  that  Mr.  Patton,  in  his  "Life  of  General 
Jackson,"  represents  this  tobacco  box  exploit  as  occurring 
in  the  daytime,  at  a  long  dinner  table  on  the  race  course, 
Gen.  Jackson  on  the  top  of  the  table,  "striding  tremen- 
dous to  the  rescue  of  Patton  Anderson,  wading  knee 
deep  in  dinner." 


WILLIAMS'   TENNESSEE  AND  MISSISSIPPI 
CAMPAIGNS 

In  the  spring  of  1806  Uncle  Berry  made  a  match  of 
mile  heats,  $500  a  side,  over  the  Hartsville  Course,  with 
Henrietta  against  Cotton's  Cygent,  which  he  won. 

The  old  men  of  the  neighborhood  manifested  great 
sympathy  for  the  young  stranger,  and  predicted  that 
Lazarus  Cotton  would  ruin  him. 

This  was  his  first  race  in  Tennessee,  and  I  witnessed  his 
last  which  was  run  over  the  Albion  Course  at  Gallatin  in 
1862. 

Shortly  after  the  race  at  Hartsville  Uncle  Berry  trained 
a  famous  quarter-race  mare  called  Sallie  Friar,  by  Jolly 
Friar,  and  made  a  match  for  $500  a  side  which  was  run 
on  Goose  Creek,  near  the  Poison  Knob.  Sallie  was  the 
winner;  she  was  afterward  purchased  by  Patton  Anderson, 
who  ran  her  with  great  success. 

In  the  fall  of  1806  Uncle  Berry  won  with  Post  Boy 
the  jockey  club  purse,  3-mile  heats  at  Gallatin,  beating 
General  Jackson's  Escape  and  others.  Escape  was  the 
favorite  and  the  General  and  Mrs.  Jackson,  who  were 
present,  backed  him  freely.  Before  this  race  he  sold  Post 
Boy  to  Messrs.  Richard  and  William  L.  Alexander  for 
$1,000  in  the  event  of  his  winning  the  race;  after  this  he 
was  withdrawn  from  the  turf. 

Here  he  first  met  Gen.  Jackson  and  made  a  match 
with  him  on  Henrietta  against  Bibb's  mare  for  $1,000  a 
side,  2-mile  heats,  equal  weights,  —  though  the  General's 


Tennessee  and  Mississippi  Campaigns      249 

mare  was  two  years  older  than  Henrietta,  —  to  come  off 
in  the  spring  of  1807  at  Clover  Bottom.  The  result  proved 
that  Uncle  Berry  underrated  the  horses  and  trainers  of 
the  Tennessee  turf,  as  the  General's  mare,  a  thoroughbred 
daughter  of  imported  Diomed,  won  the  race. 

The  General,  though  deprived  of  the  pleasure  of  being 
present  on  that  interesting  occasion  (having  been  sum- 
moned as  a  witness  in  the  trial  of  Aaron  Burr  at  Rich- 
mond), showed  that  his  heart  was  in  the  race,  as  appears 
from  a  letter  to  his  friend  Patton  Anderson,  dated  June  16, 
and  published  in  Parton's  "  Life  of  Jackson,"  from  which 
I  quote: 

"At  the  race  I  hope  you  will  see  Mrs.  Jackson:  tell  her 
not  to  be  uneasy.  I  will  be  home  as  soon  as  my  obedience 
to  the  precept  of  my  country  will  permit.  I  have  only  to 
add  as  to  the  race  that  the  mare  of  Williams'  is  thought 
here  to  be  a  first  rate  animal  of  her  size:  but  if  she  can  be 
put  up  she  will  fail  in  one  heat.  It  will  be  then  proper  to 
put  her  up  to  all  she  knows  at  once." 

This  is  Jacksonian.  Not  many  men  would  take  the 
responsibliity  of  giving  orders  of  how  to  run  a  race  at  the 
distance  of  500  miles. 

This  error  of  underrating  an  adversary,  especially  such 
an  adversary,  was  a  heavy  blow  to  Uncle  Berry,  from  which 
he  did  not  fully  recover  until  he  started  Haynie's  Maria, 
mounted  by  Monkey  Simon,  against  him. 

Not  long  after  this  defeat  he  set  out  to  search  for  a  horse 
with  which  to  beat  Gen.  Jackson,  and  purchased  from 
Gen.  Wade  Hampton,  of  South  Carolina,  a  gelding 
called  Omar,  bringing  him  to  Tennessee.  After  recruiting 
his  horse  at  Capt.  Alexander's,  near  Hartsville,  he  went 
to  Nashville  and  offered  Gen.  Jackson  a  match  for 
$1,000  a  side,  3-mile  heats,  according  to  rules.  This 
the  General  declined,  offering,  instead,  the  same  terms  as 


r 


250     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

to  weight  in  the  former  race,  in  which  he  was  allowed  two 
years'  advantage;  a  proposition  which,  of  course,  was  not 
accepted. 

Unable  to  get  a  race  in  Tennessee  Uncle  Berry  took  his 
horse  to  Natchez,  Miss.,  travelling  through  the  swamps  of 
the  Chickasaw  and  Choctaw  nations  and  entering  him  in 
a  stake,  3-mile  heats,  $200  entrance;  but  his  bad  luck 
pursued  him  and  just  before  the  race  his  horse  snagged 
his  foot  and  he  paid  forfeit.  He  remained  near  Natchez 
12  months  and  nursed  his  horse  as  no  other  man  could 
have  done,  until  he  was  perfectly  restored  to  health  and 
in  condition  for  the  approaching  fall  races  of  1808.  Writ- 
ing to  Col.  George  Elliott  he  urged  him  to  come  to  Natchez 
and  bring  15  or  20  horses  to  bet  on  Omar,  and  also  to  bring 
Monkey  Simon  to  ride  him,  which  Col.  Elliott  did. 

Simon's  appearance  on  the  field  alarmed  the  trainer  of 
the  other  horse  who  had  known  him  in  South  Carolina, 
and  suspecting  that  Omar  was  a  bite,  he  paid  forfeit. 

As  Simon  was  a  distinguished  character  and  made  a 
conspicuous  figure  on  the  turf  of  Tennessee  for  many  years 
it  may  be  well  to  give  some  account  of  him. 

His  sobriquet  of  "Monkey  Simon"  conveys  a  forcible 
idea  of  his  appearance.  He  was  a  native  African  and  was 
brought  with  his  parents  when  quite  young  to  South 
Carolina,  before  the  prohibition  of  the  slave  trade  took 
effect.  In  height  he  was  4  feet  6  inches  and  weighed  100 
pounds.  He  was  a  hunch-back  with  very  short  body  and 
remarkably  long  arms  and  legs.  His  color  and  hair  were 
African,  but  his  features  were  not.  He  had  a  long  head 
and  face,  a  high  and  delicate  nose,  a  narrow  but  prominent 
forehead  and  a  mouth  indicative  of  humor  and  firmness. 
It  was  rumored  that  Simon  was  a  prince  in  his  native 
country.  I  asked  Uncle  Berry  the  other  day  if  he  thought 
it  was  true.  He  replied,  "I  don't  know;  they  said  so, 


Tennessee  and  Mississippi  Campaigns    251 

and  if  the  princes  there  had  more  sense  than  the  rest  he 
must  have  been  one  of  'em,  for  he  was  the  smartest  negro 
I  ever  saw." 

Col.  Elliott,  speaking  of  Simon  after  his  death,  said 
he  was  the  coolest,  bravest,  wisest  rider  he  ever  saw  mount 
a  horse,  in  which  opinion  Uncle  Berry  fully  concurs. 

Simon  was  an  inimitable  banjo  player  and  improvised 
his  songs,  making  humorous  hits  at  everybody;  even 
Gen.  Jackson  did  not  escape  him.  Indeed,  no  man  was 
his  superior  in  repartee. 

On  one  occasion  Col.  Elliott  and  James  Jackson, 
with  a  view  to  a  match  race  for  $1,000  a  side,  a  dash  of 
two  miles,  on  Paddy  Cary,  against  Colonel  Stepp's  mare, 
consented  to  lend  Simon  to  ride  the  mare. 

Col.  Stepp  not  only  gave  Simon  $100  in  the  race, 
but  stimulated  his  pride  by  saying  they  thought  they 
could  win  races  without  him,  whereas  he  knew  their 
success  was  owing  to  Simon's  riding.  Somewhat  offended 
at  the  idea  of  being  lent  out,  and  by  no  means  indifferent 
to  the  money,  Simon  resolved  to  win  the  race  if  possible; 
and  nodding  his  head  said,  "I'll  show  'em."  The  mare 
had  the  speed  of  Paddy  and  took  the  track,  and  Simon,  by 
his  consummate  skill  and  by  intimidating  the  other  rider, 
managed  to  run  him  far  out  on  the  turns  while  he  rested 
his  mare  for  a  brush  on  the  stretches. 

On  reaching  the  last  turn  Simon  found  the  mare  pretty 
tired  and  Paddy,  a  game  4-miIer,  locked  with  her,  and  he 
boldly  swung  out  so  far  as  to  leave  Paddy  in  the  fence 
corner.  The  boy  came  up  and  attempted  to  pass  on  the 
inside,  but  Simon  headed  him  off  and  growled  at  him  all 
the  way  down  the  quarter  stretch,  beating  him  out  by  a 
neck. 

Simon  could  come  within  a  hair's  breadth  of  foul  riding 
and  yet  escape  the  penalty. 


252     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Col.  Elliott  lost  his  temper,  which  he  rarely  did,  and 
abused  Simon,  saying,  "not  satisfied  with  making  Paddy 
run  forty  feet  further  than  the  mare  on  every  turn,  he 
must  ride  foul  all  the  way  down  the  quarter  stretch." 
The  Colonel  repeated  these  charges  until  at  length  Simon 
answered  him  with,  "Well,  Col.  Elliott  (as  he  always 
called  him),  I've  won  many  a  race  that  way  for  you,  and 
it  is  the  first  time  I  ever  heard  you  object  to  it." 


VI 

WALK-IN-THE-WATER,   A   REMARKABLE 
RACER 

Much  has  been  said  and  written  of  the  tenderness  and 
care  bestowed  by  the  Arabs  on  their  favorite  horses,  but 
I  doubt  whether  any  Arabian  since  the  time  of  the  Prophet 
ever  showed  such  devotion  to  his  favorite  steed,  as  Uncle 
Berry  to  the  thoroughbreds  under  his  care.  In  fact  his 
kindly  nature  embraced  all  domestic  animals.  For  many 
years  he  resided  on  a  rich  productive  farm  near  Gallatin, 
where  he  trained  Betsy  Malone,  Sarah  Bladen  and  many 
other  distinguished  race  horses;  raised  fine  stock  and  fine 
crops  and  proved  himself  to  be  one  of  the  best  farmers 
in  the  neighborhood.  He  had  pets  of  all  kinds  —  huge 
hogs  that  would  come  and  sprawl  themselves  to  be 
rubbed,  and  game  chickens  that  would  feed  from  his 
hand,  and  follow  him  if  he  left  home  on  foot  —  often 
obliging  him  to  return  and  shut  them  up. 

He  raised  many  celebrated  racers  for  himself  and  others, 
and  so  judicious  was  his  system  that  at  the  age  of  two 
they  had  almost  the  maturity  of  three-year-olds. 

His  last  thoroughbred  was  a  chestnut  filly  foaled  in 
1859,  by  Lexington,  dam  Sally  Roper  (the  dam  of  Berry), 
which  was  entered  in  a  stake  for  three-year-olds,  $500 
entrance,  2-mile  heats,  to  come  off  over  the  Albion  Course 
near  Gallatin  in  the  fall  of  1862.  This  filly  was,  of  course, 
a  great  favorite  with  Uncle  Berry.  She  never  associated 
with  any  quadruped  after  she  was  weaned,  her  master 
being  her  only  companion.  At  two  years  old  she  was 


254     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

large  and  muscular  and  very  promising;  and  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1 86 1  I  urged  Uncle  Berry  to  send  her  to  the  race 
course  (where  I  had  Fannie  McAIister,  dam  of  Muggins, 
and  several  other  animals  in  training),  that  she  might  be 
gentled  and  broken  to  ride.  His  reply  was,  "  I  have  been 
thinking  of  your  kind  offer  —  I  know  she  ought  to  be 
broke,  but,  poor  thing!  she  don't  know  anything;  she 
has  never  been  anywhere,  and  has  never  even  been 
mounted.  I  am  afraid  she  will  tear  herself  all  to  pieces." 
But  he  finally  consented  for  my  colored  trainer,  Jack 
Richelieu,  to  take  her  to  the  track.  On  meeting  Mrs.  Wil- 
liams a  few  days  afterwards  I  inquired  for  Uncle  Berry. 
Her  reply  was,  "He  is  well  enough  as  to  health,  but  he  is 
mighty  lonesome  since  the  filly  went  away." 

But  of  all  the  horses  he  ever  owned  Walk-in-the-water 
was  his  especial  favorite.  In  the  language  of  Burns  he 
"lo'ed  him  like  a  vera  brither."  He  was  a  large  chestnut 
gelding,  foaled  in  1813,  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  by  Gondolah,  a 
thoroughbred  son  of  Mark  Anthony;  and  these  two  were 
the  only  pure  crosses  in  his  pedigree;  yet  he  was  distin- 
guished on  the  turf  until  15  years  old,  more  especially  in 
races  of  3  and  4-mile  heats. 

I  was  present  when  Walk,  at  19  years  of  age,  ran  his 
last  race,  of  4-mile  heats,  over  the  Nashville  Course, 
against  Polly  Powell. 

Uncle  Berry,  several  years  before,  had  presented  him 
to  Thomas  Foxhall,  with  a  positive  agreement  that  he 
would  neither  train  nor  run  him  again;  having  a  two- 
year-old  in  training  Mr.  Foxhall  took  up  the  old  horse 
merely  to  gallop  in  company  with  him,  a  few  weeks  before 
the  Nashville  meeting. 

It  became  well  known  that  the  mare  would  start  for 
the  4-mile  purse,  and  she  was  so  great  a  favorite  that  no 
one  would  enter  against  her. 


Walk-in-the-Water,  a  Remarkable  Racer  255 

The  proprietor,  to  prevent  a  "walk-over,"  induced 
Foxhall  to  allow  him  to  announce  Walk-in-the-water, 
whose  name  would  be  sure  to  draw  a  crowd.  There  was 
a  large  attendance,  and  the  game  old  horse  made  a  won- 
derful race,  considering  his  age,  running  a  heat,  and  evi- 
dently losing  in  consequence  of  his  want  of  condition. 

When  the  horses  were  brought  out  I  missed  Uncle 
Berry  and  went  in  search  of  him.  I  found  him  in  the 
grove  alone,  sitting  on  a  log  and  looking  very  sad.  "Are 
you  not  going  up  to  see  old  Walk  run?"  I  inquired. 
"No,  I  would  as  soon  see  a  fight  between  my  grandfather 
and  a  boy  of  twenty,"  he  replied. 

In  the  year  1827,  when  Walk  was  14  years  old,  Uncle 
Berry  took  him  and  several  colts  that  were  entered  in 
stakes,  to  Natchez,  Miss.,  travelling  by  land  through  the 
terrible  swamps  of  the  Chickasaw  and  Choctaw  nations. 
The  colts  had  made  very  satisfactory  trial  runs  in  Ten- 
nessee, but  suffered  so  severely  from  the  journey  that 
they  either  paid  forfeits  or  lost  their  stakes;  so  that  Walk- 
in-the-water  was  the  only  hope  for  winning  expenses.  He 
was  entered  in  the  4-mile  race  of  the  Jockey  Club,  and 
his  only  competitor  was  the  bay  Archy  gelding,  Blucher, 
15  years  old,  a  horse  of  great  fame  as  a  4-miIer  in  Mis- 
sissippi. 

Sometime  before  the  race  the  Jockey  Club  met  and 
changed  the  rule,  reducing  the  weight  on  all  horses  of 
15  years  or  upward  to  100  pounds,  leaving  to  all  others 
their  full  weight  or  124  pounds,  3  pounds  less  for  mares  and 
geldings.  On  the  day  before  the  race  was  run  a  motion 
by  Col.  A.  L.  Bingaman  to  rescind  the  rule  and  make 
the  weights  equal  was  voted  down. 

This  extraordinary  proceeding  would  not  have  been 
tolerated  by  the  gentlemen  who,  at  a  later  day,  composed 
that  club,  but  Uncle  Berry  protested  in  vain  against  the 


256     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

injustice  done  him.    He  however  concluded  to  run  Walk, 
giving  his  half  brother  2 1  pounds  advantage  in  weight. 

Walk  had  the  speed  of  Blucher,  and  when  the  drum 
tapped  took  the  track  with  Blucher  at  his  side,  and  these 
two  game  Archys  ran  locked  through  the  heat,  Walk 
winning  by  half  a  length. 

The  second  heat  was  a  repetition  of  the  first,  and  never 
was  a  more  tremendous  struggle  witnessed  on  a  race 
course  —  a  blanket  would  have  covered  the  horses  from 
the  tap  of  the  drum  to  the  close  of  the  race. 

Any  man  who  has  watched  a  favorite  horse  winning  a 
race,  out  of  the  fire  and  blue  blazes  at  that,  can  appreciate 
Uncle  Berry's  feelings  during  the  terrible  struggle. 

The  horses  swung  into  the  quarter  stretch  the  eighth 
and  last  mile  and  Uncle  Berry,  seeing  the  sorrel  face  of 
his  old  favorite  ahead,  cried  out  at  the  top  of  his  voice, 
"Come  home,  Walk,  come  home!  Your  master  wants 
money  and  that  badly!" 

After  the  race  he  expressed  his  opinion  of  the  club  in 
no  measured  terms.  Though  habitually  polite  and  respect- 
ful, particularly  toward  the  authorities  of  a  Jockey  Club, 
he  was  a  man  of  undaunted  courage  and  ready  to  resist 
oppression  irrespective  of  consequences;  but  his  friends 
interposed  and  persuaded  him  to  let  the  matter  pass. 

When  he  reached  the  stables  the  horses  were  being 
prepared  for  their  night's  rest,  and  he  made  them  each 
an  address. 

"Jo,"  he  said  to  a  Pacolet  colt  named  Jo  Doan  that 
had  lost  his  stake  in  slow  time,  "you  won't  do  to  tie  to. 
I've  always  done  a  good  part  by  you.  I  salted  you  out  of 
my  hand  while  you  sucked  your  mammy;  you  know  what 
you  promised  me  before  we  left  home  (alluding  to  a  trial 
run)  and  now  you  have  thrown  me  off  among  strangers." 

And  he  passed  on,  complaining  of  the  other  colts. 


Walk-in-the-Water,  a  Remarkable  Racer     257 

The  groom  was  washing  old  Walk-in-the-water's  legs 
while  he  stood  calm  and  majestic,  with  his  game,  intelli- 
gent head,  large  brilliant  eyes,  inclined  shoulders  and 
immense  windpipe,  looking  every  inch  a  hero.  When 
Uncle  Berry  came  to  him  he  threw  his  arms  around  his 
neck  and  said,  bursting  into  tears,  "Here's  a  poor  man's 
friend  in  a  distant  land!" 

Walk-in-the-water  won  more  long  races  than  any  horse 
of  his  day.1 

1  NOTE  BY  J.  D.  A.  —  Peter  Faggan,  called  "Cabin  Point,"  was 
a  free  man  of  color  known  to  all  lovers  of  music  and  dancing  from 
James  River  to  Roanoke,  as  one  who  "made  the  best  bow  and  drew 
the  most  interesting  bow."  Maj.  A.  J.  Davie,  then  owner  of  Sir 
Archy,  was  one  day  in  the  town  of  Halifax,  N.C.,  and  heard  Jarrard 
Weaver  ask  an  officer  if  he  had  collected  some  money  due  him  from 
Peter  Faggan.  The  officer  answered  that  he  had  not  and  had  little 
prospect  of  getting  the  money  soon;  whereupon  Davie  suggested 
that  Weaver  allow  Faggan  to  pay  in  music.  Weaver  demurred. 
Davie  next  asked  the  privilege  of  cancelling  the  debt  by  permitting 
Weaver  to  breed  a  highly  prized  pacing  mare  he  was  then  riding,  to 
Sir  Archy.  Weaver  agreed  to  do  this;  he  went  that  day  to  Maj. 
Davie' s  home  at  New  Hope,  bred  the  mare  —  and  Walk-in-the- 
water  was  the  produce. 

At  3  years  of  age  Weaver's  colt  won  a  "corn  race"  so  easily  that  he 
attracted  the  attention  of  Col.  William  Wynn,  and  J.  D.  Amis,  and 
they,  being  subscribers  to  a  post  stake  and  having  no  colt  to  run, 
purchased  him  for  $600;  he  won  the  race.  Under  the  name  of 
Young  Timoleon  he  won  many  hard  fought  victories  on  various 
tracks  from  Petersburg,  Va.,  to  Charleston,  S.C.,  and  was  then 
brought  to  "the  West"  by  Wade  Bynum,  and  in  various  hands  con- 
tinued his  successful  career.  He  is  said  to  have  "travelled  farther, 
run  more  long  distance  races,  and  to  a  greater  age  than  perhaps 
any  horse  in  the  world." 


VII 
HAYNIE'S  MARIA  AGAINST  THE  WORLD 

Haynie's  Maria  was  a  most  extraordinary  race  nag  at 
all  distances,  probably  not  inferior  to  any  that  has  ap- 
peared in  America  since  her  day.  She  was  bred  by  Bennett 
Goodman,  of  Virginia,  who  moved  to  North  Carolina 
where  Maria  was  foaled  in  the  spring  of  1808.  From 
North  Carolina  Goodman  removed  to  Tennessee  and,  in 
the  fall  of  1809,  sold  Maria  to  Capt.  Jesse  Haynie  of 
Sumner  County.  She  was  one  of  the  last  of  imp  Diomed's 
get,  when  30  years  of  age.  Her  first  dam  was  by  Tayloe's 
Bellair;  second  dam  by  Symmes'  Wildair;  third  dam  by 
imported  Othello,  out  of  an  imported  mare. 

She  was  a  dark  chestnut,  exactly  15  hands  high;  pos- 
sessing great  strength,  muscular  power  and  symmetry; 
the  perfect  model  of  a  race  horse. 

Maria  commenced  her  turf  career  at  three  years  of  age 
and  ran  all  distances  from  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  4-mile 
heats. 

In  the  fall  of  1811  she  ran  a  sweepstake  over  the  Nash- 
ville Course,  entrance  $100,  2-mile  heats,  beating  Gen. 
Jackson's  colt,  Decatur,  by  Truxton;  Col.  Robert  BelPs 
filly  by  imp  Diomed;  and  four  others;  all  distanced  the 
first  heat  except  Bell's  filly. 

This  defeat  aroused  the  ire  and  combative  spirit  of 
Gen.  Jackson  almost  as  much  as  did  his  defeat  by  Mr. 
Adams  for  the  Presidency;  and  he  swore  "by  the  Eternal" 
he  would  beat  her  if  a  horse  could  be  found  in  the  United 
States  able  to  do  it. 


Haynie's  Maria  Against  the  World     259 

In  the  fall  of  1812,  over  the  Nashville  Course,  Maria 
won  a  sweepstake,  $500  entrance,  4-mile  heats,  beating 
Col.  Robert  Bell's  Diomed  mare;  a  horse  called  Clifden; 
and  Col.  Ed  Bradley's  Dungannon.  (Gen.  Jackson  was 
interested  in  Dungannon.)  This  was  a  most  exciting  and 
interesting  race,  especially  to  the  ladies,  who  attended 
in  great  numbers;  those  of  Davidson  County  with  Aunt 
Rachel  Jackson  and  her  niece,  Miss  Rachel  Hays,  at  their 
head,  backing  Dungannon;  while  the  Sumner  County 
ladies,  led  by  Miss  Clarissa  Bledsoe,  daughter  of  the 
pioneer  hero,  Col.  Anthony  Bledsoe,  bet  their  last  glove 
on  little  Maria. 

After  this  second  defeat,  Gen.  Jackson  became  terribly 
in  earnest,  and  before  he  gave  up  the  effort  to  beat 
Maria  he  ransacked  Virginia,  South  Carolina,  Georgia 
and  Kentucky.  He  was  almost  as  clamorous  for  a  horse 
as  was  Richard  in  the  battle  of  Bosworth  Field. 

He  first  wrote  Col.  William  R.  Johnson  to  send  him  the 
best  4-mile  horse  in  Virginia,  without  regard  to  price, 
expressing  a  preference  for  the  famous  Bellair  mare,  Old 
Favorite.  Col.  Johnson  sent  him,  at  a  high  price,  the 
celebrated  horse  Pacolet,  by  imp  Citizen,  who  had  greatly 
distinguished  himself  as  a  4-miIer  in  Virginia. 

In  the  fall  of  1813,  at  Nashville,  Maria  won  a  sweep- 
stake, $1,000  entrance,  $500  forfeit,  4-mile  heats,  beating 
Pacolet  with  great  ease,  two  paying  forfeits.  It  was  said 
that  Pacolet  had  received  an  injury  in  one  of  his  four 
ankles. 

The  General,  being  anything  but  satisfied  with  the 
result,  made  a  match  on  Pacolet  against  Maria  for  $1,000 
a  side,  $500  forfeit,  4-mile  heats,  to  come  off  over  the 
same  course  the  fall  of  1814;  but  Pacolet,  being  still 
lame,  he  paid  forfeit. 

These  repeated  failures  only  made  the  General  more 


260     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

inflexible  in  his  purpose  and,  in  conjunction  with  Mr. 
James  Jackson,  who  then  resided  in  the  vicinity  of  Nash- 
ville, he  sent  to  South  Carolina  and  bought  Tarn  O'Shanter, 
a  horse  distinguished  in  that  state.  The  fall  of  1814 
Maria  won,  over  the  Nashville  Course,  club  purse  $275, 
2-mile  heats,  beating  Tarn  O'Shanter,  William  Lytle's 
Royalist  and  two  or  three  others. 

A  few  days  after,  over  the  same  course,  she  won  a  pro- 
prietor's purse,  $350,  only  one  starting  against  her. 

About  this  time  Gen.  Jackson  sent  to  Georgia  and  pur- 
chased of  Col.  Alston  Stump-the-Dealer,  but  for  some 
cause  did  not  match  him  against  Maria. 

The  General  then  sent  to  Kentucky  and  induced  Mr. 
DeWett  to  come  to  the  Hermitage  with  his  mare  (reputed 
to  be  the  swiftest  mile  nag  in  the  United  States),  with  a 
view  of  matching  her  against  Maria.  Mr.  DeWett  trained 
his  mare  at  the  Hermitage.  In  the  fall  of  1814,  at  Clover 
Bottom,  Maria  beat  this  mare  for  $1,000  a  side,  dash  of  a 
mile. 

In  the  fall  of  1815  Gen.  Jackson  and  Mr.  DeWett 
ran  the  same  mare  against  Maria,  dash  of  half  a  mile,  for 
$1,500  a  side;  $500  on  the  first  quarter,  $500  on  600 
yards,  and  $500  on  the  half  mile,  all  of  which  bets  were 
won  by  Maria  —  the  last  by  100  feet.  This  was  run  at 
Nashville. 

The  next  week  over  the  same  course  she  won  a  match, 
$1,000  a  side,  mile-heats,  made  with  Gen.  Jackson  and 
Col.  Ed.  Ward,  beating  the  Colonel's  horse,  Western 
Light. 

Soon  after  this  race  she  was  again  matched  against  her 
old  competitor,  DeWett's  mare,  for  $1,000  a  side,  over  the 
same  course  (which  was  in  McNairy's  Bottom,  above  the 
Sulphur  Springs),  Maria  giving  her  a  distance  (which 
was  then  120  yards)  in  a  dash  of  two  miles. 


Haynie's  Maria  Against  the  World     261 

Col.  Lynch,  of  Virginia,  had  been  induced  to  come 
and  bring  his  famous  colored  rider,  Dick,  to  ride  DeWett's 
mare. 

Before  the  last  start  Uncle  Berry  directed  his  rider  (also 
colored)  to  put  the  spurs  to  Maria  from  the  tap  of  the 
drum.  But  to  his  amazement  they  went  off  at  a  moderate 
gait,  DeWett's  mare  in  the  lead,  making  the  first  mile  in 
exactly  two  minutes.  As  they  passed  the  stand  Uncle 
Berry  again  ordered  his  boy  to  go  on,  but  the  mares  con- 
tinued at  the  same  rate  until  after  they  entered  the  back 
stretch,  Maria  still  a  little  in  the  rear,  when  her  rider  gave 
her  the  spurs  and  she  beat  her  competitor  180  yards, 
making  the  last  mile  in  one  minute  and  forty-eight  seconds. 
All  who  saw  the  race  declared  that  she  made  the  most 
extraordinary  display  of  speed  they  ever  witnessed. 

When  Uncle  Berry  demanded  an  explanation  of  his  rider 
he  learned  that  Dick,  who  professed  to  be  a  conjurer,  or 
spiritualist,  had  frightened  the  boy  by  threatening  that 
if  he  attempted  to  pass  ahead  of  him,  until  after  they  ran 
a  mile  and  a  quarter,  he  would  lift  him  out  of  his  saddle, 
or  throw  down  his  mare  by  a  mere  motion  of  his  whip, 
which  the  boy  fully  believed.  Most  negroes  at  that  time, 
and  some  white  people  in  this  enlightened  age,  believed  in 
these  absurdities. 

The  speed  of  Maria  was  wonderful.  She  and  the  famous 
quarter-race  horse,  Saltram,  were  trained  by  Uncle  Berry 
at  the  same  time,  and  he  often  "brushed"  them  through 
the  quarter-stretch,  "and  they  always  came  out  locked." 
Whichever  one  got  the  start  kept  the  lead. 

Although  Gen.  Jackson  conquered  the  Indians, 
defeated  Packenham,  beat  Adams  and  Clay,  crushed  the 
monster  bank  under  the  heel  of  his  military  boot,  he  could 
not  beat  Maria  in  the  hands  of  Uncle  Berry. 

After  the  last  race  above  mentioned,  some  Virginians 


262     Making  the  American  Thofoughbred 

present  said  that  there  were  horses  in  Virginia  that  could 
beat  Maria.  Capt.  Haynie  offered  to  match  her  against 
any  horse  in  the  world,  from  i  mile  to  4-mile  heats,  for 
$5,000. 

Shortly  after  this  conversation,  meeting  Gen.  Jack- 
son, Capt.  Haynie  informed  him  what  had  passed, 
and  the  General,  in  his  impressive  manner,  replied: 
"Make  the  race  for  $50,000  and  consider  me  in  with  you. 
She  can  beat  any  animal  in  God's  whole  creation." 

In  March,  1816,  at  Lexington,  Kentucky,  Maria  beat 
Robin  Gray  (sire  of  Lexington's  third  dam)  a  match,  mile- 
heats,  for  $1,000  a  side. 

The  next  month  she  beat,  at  Cage's  Race  Paths,  near 
Bender's  Ferry,  in  Sumner  County,  Mr.  John  Childress' 
Woodlawn  filly  by  Truxton,  a  straight  half-mile,  for  $1,000 
a  side,  giving  her  60  feet.  Maria  won  this  race  by  2  feet 
only. 

This  was  the  first  race  I  ever  saw  and  I  was  greatly 
impressed  with  the  beautiful  riding  of  Monkey  Simon. 

After  this  race  Maria  was  taken  by  Uncle  Berry  to 
Waynesboro,  Georgia,  where  she  bantered  the  world  but 
could  not  get  a  race.  There  were  very  few  Jockey  Clubs 
in  the  country  at  that  time.  In  January,  1817,  Maria  was 
returned  to  Capt.  Haynie,  in  Sumner  County,  and 
soon  afterward  sold  by  him  to  Pollard  Brown,  who  got 
her  beaten  in  Charleston  in  a  4-mile  heat  race  with  Trans- 
port and  Little  John,  when  she  was  9  years  old.1  Maria 
carried  overweight,  ran  under  many  disadvantages  and 
lost  the  race  by  only  a  few  feet. 

The  other  day  I  asked  Uncle  Berry  how  he  thought 
Maria  would  compare  with  the  best  horses  of  the  present 
day.  In  reply  he  said: 

1  NOTE  BY  J.  D.  A.  —  Up  to  this  race  Maria  never  lost  a  heat. 
She  was  ridden  in  this  race  by  Samuel  Purdy. 


Haynies  Maria  Against  the  World     263 

"  If  I  were  forty  and  Maria  four  years  of  age  I  would 
not  want  a  greater  fortune  than  I  could  win  with  her  at 
Fordham  and  Saratoga." 

He  thinks  the  improvement  in  training  and  the  condition 
of  the  race  tracks  account  for  the  difference  in  time  of 
this  and  former  days.  He  thinks  if  the  horses  of  the  pres- 
ent day  were  galloped  in  sweats  1 6  or  20  miles  under  8  or 
10  Mackinaw  blankets,  and  every  morning  and  evening 
galloped  4  miles  and  repeated  under  2  or  3  blankets,  and 
ran  their  races  on  deep  heavy  tracks,  as  formerly,  they 
would  make  slow  time,  and  very  few  of  them  would  be 
seen  on  the  turf  at  the  age  of  9  years;  and  I  agree  with 
him. 

In  old  times,  in  cases  of  severe  fevers,  doctors  excluded 
the  fresh  air  and  wrapped  their  patients  in  blankets,  and 
gave  them  warm  water  to  drink.  The  first  cargo  of 
Yankee  ice  brought  to  New  Orleans  was  thrown  into  the 
Mississippi  by  an  order  of  the  Mayor  under  advice  from 
the  medical  board. 

I  believe  that  it  is  conceded  that  Flying  Childers  and 
O' Kelly's  Eclipse  were  the  fastest  horses  the  world  has 
ever  produced;  or,  in  the  expressive  language  of  John 
Randolph,  "They  were  the  swiftest  quadrupeds  that 
ever  appeared  on  the  earth." 

These  two  horses  were  the  "diamonds  of  the  desert" 
—  the  pure  fountains  with  which  we  are  delighted  to 
connect  our  thoroughbreds  by  the  unbroken  links  of  an 
extended  chain. 

NOTE  BY  J.  D.  A.  —  Although  Peyton's  extended  pedigree  of 
Maria  includes  matter  that  has  already  been  given  in  this  volume, 
it  is  retained,  unabridged,  as  a  striking  illustration  of  the  way  the 
thoroughbred  was  made,  and  as  a  convenient  source  of  information 
in  detail  about  the  blood  of  what  is  believed  to  have  been  the  best 
racer  that  ever  circled  a  track  in  Tennessee. 


264     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

The  third  dam  of  her  (Maria's)  sire,  imp  Diomed,  was 
by  Flying  Childers,  and  he  by  Darley's  Arabian,  (i)  The 
seventh  dam  of  Diomed  was  by  Spanker,  he  by  young 
Marske,  he  by  Marske  (sire  of  O'Kelley's  Eclipse),  he  by 
Squirt,  he  by  Bartlett's  Childers  (own  brother  to  Flying 
Childers).  (2)  Diomed  was  by  Florizel,  whose  third  dam 
was  by  Flying  Childers.  (3)  Florizel  was  by  King  Herod 
whose  fourth  dam  was  by  Darley's  Arabian.  (4)  The 
dam  of  Herod  was  by  Blaze  and  he  by  Flying  Childers. 
(5)  The  dam  of  Diomed  was  by  Spectator  whose  third 
dam  was  by  Darley's  Arabian.  (6)  The  second  dam  of 
Diomed  was  by  Blank,  whose  dam  was  by  Bartlett's 
Childers.  Making  seven  courses  of  Darley's  Arabian 
through  Diomed,  three  of  which  are  through  Flying 
Childers  and  two  through  Bartlett's  Childers. 

The  dam  of  Maria  was  by  Tayloe's  Bellair,  son  of 
imp  Medley.  Medley's  fourth  dam  was  by  Bartlett's 
Childers.  (i)  Medley  was  by  Gimcrack,  and  he  by 
Cripple,  whose  second  dam  was  by  Flying  Childers.  (2) 
Medley's  second  dam  was  by  Snap,  he  by  Snip,  and  he 
by  Flying  Childers. 

Making  three  courses  of  Darley's  Arabian  through  her 
dam,  two  of  which  are  through  Flying  Childers  and  one 
through  Bartlett's  Childers. 

Making  in  all  ten  crosses  of  Darley's  Arabian  in  Maria's 
pedigree,  five  of  which  are  through  Flying  Childers  and 
three  through  Bartlett's  Childers. 

Maria  has  the  following  crosses  of  the  Godolphin 
Arabian: 

The  second  dam  of  Diomed  was  by  Blank  and  he  by 
the  Godolphin.  (i)  Bellair  was  by  imp  Medley,  he  by 
Gimcrack,  he  by  Cripple  and  he  by  the  Godolphin.  (2) 
The  second  dam  of  Bellair  was  by  black  Selima,  by  imp 
Fearnought  and  he  by  Regulus,  the  best  son  of  the 


Haynie's  Maria  Against  the  World     265 

Godolphin.  (3)  The  third  dam  of  Bellair  was  imp 
Selima  by  the  Godolphin. 

If  the  imported  mare1  to  which  Maria  traces  could  be 
identified  she  would  probably  add  several  additional 
crosses  of  these  famous  Arabs. 

For  the  performances  of  Maria  I  have  relied  mainly 
upon  her  memoir  published  in  the  sixth  volume  of  the 
"American  Turf  Register,"  which  was  written  by  Judge 
Thomas  Barry,  who  obtained  the  facts  from  Capt. 
Haynie  in  his  lifetime,  which  are  corroborated  substan- 
tially by  Uncle  Berry. 

1  Bruce  says  she  was  Gen.  Thomas  Nelson's  imp  Blossom  by  Sloe 
(son  of  Crab),  dam  by  Regulus.  See  BLOSSOM,  this  volume  — 
J.  D.  A. 


VIII 

TENNESSEE  OSCAR,  A  HORSE  WITHOUT 
A  RIVAL 

Bay  colt,  Oscar,  foaled  in  spring  of  1814,  bred  by  Rev. 
Hubbard  Saunders,  of  Sumner  County,  Tennessee,  stood 
without  a  rival  on  the  Tennessee  turf  in  his  day. 

He  never  paid  a  forfeit  nor  lost  a  heat;  nor  did  he  ever 
meet  a  competitor  able  to  put  him  to  his  top  speed. 

His  pedigree  is  not  only  pure,  but  rich  and  choice. 

He  was  got  by  Wilkes'  Wonder,  dam  Rosey  Clack  by 
imp  Saltram;  —  Camilla  by  Symmes'  Wildair,  the  best 
son  of  imp  Fearnought;  —  Minerva  by  imp  Obscurity;  — 
Diana  by  Clodius;  —  Sally  Painter  by  imp  Sterling;  — 
imp  Silver  by  Belsize  Arabian;  —  by  Croft's  Partner; 
—  Sister  to  Roxana  by  Bald  Galloway;  —  by  Akaster 
Turk;  —  by  Leeds  Arabian;  —  by  Spanker. 

This  pedigree,  in  the  language  of  my  late  friend,  Rev. 
Hardy  M.  Cryer,  "is  pure  as  the  icicle  which  hung  at  the 
north  corner  of  Diana's  Temple." 

Oscar  was  a  dark  bay  of  uniform  color  with  black  points, 
full  15  hands,  3  inches  high,  owned  and  run  by  that  high- 
toned  gentleman,  Dr.  Roger  B.  Sappington,  of  Nashville. 
He  was  a  horse  of  commanding  presence,  possessing  great 
power,  especially  in  the  shoulders  and  chest,  in  which  he 
resembled  the  lion;  high,  oblique  withers;  short  back; 
prominent  hips;  hindquarters  rather  light  when  contrasted 
with  his  shoulders  and  chest;  stifles  and  hocks  excellent, 
and  limbs  superior;  hind  feet  well  under  him;  with  a  head, 


Tennessee  Oscar,  a  Horse  without  a  Rival     267 

eye  and  windpipe  which  could  not  be  surpassed.  He 
reminded  me  of  Uncle  Berry's  answer  to  my  question 
about  the  head,  limbs  and  action  of  Ball's  Florizel;  he 
said,  "his  head  was  all  mouth  and  nostrils,  and  he  could 
stand  with  all  his  feet  in  a  wash  tub." 

Oscar,  with  greatest  ease,  won  his  first  race,  a  sweep- 
stake, in  October,  1817,  over  the  Nashville  Course,  2- 
mile  heats,  $100  entrance,  beating  Mr.  James  Jackson's 
McShane  (by  imported  Eagle  out  of  his  imported  mare, 
Virginia,  by  imported  Dare  Devil),  and  Dr.  Butler's 
splendid  filly  by  Pacolet.  The  next  day  he  walked  over 
the  course  for  the  Club  purse. 

In  May,  1818,  he  won,  over  the  same  course,  a  Jockey 
Club  purse,  4-mile  heats,  beating  with  ease  Gen.  Jack- 
son's Gun  Boat,  by  Pacolet.  Gun  Boat  was  withdrawn 
after  the  first  heat. 

In  October,  1818,  over  same  course,  he  won  the  Jockey 
Club  purse,  4-mile  heats,  beating  with  ease,  at  2  heats, 
Mr.  Morton's  horse  by  Potomac  and  Col.  Elliott's  (Uncle 
Berry's)  horse  by  imported  Whip.  This  Whip  colt  be- 
longed to  Uncle  Berry;  his  history  is  as  follows: 

Uncle  Berry  volunteered  in  Capt.  John  W.  Byrrns' 
light  horse  company  early  in  the  Creek  War  and  served 
out  his  term  under  Gen.  Jackson,  for  which  he  now  is, 
and  has  been  for  about  12  months,  in  the  receipt  of  a 
pension  of  $96  per  annum,  payable  quarterly.  He  com- 
menced to  receive  this  pension,  under  the  late  act  of 
Congress,  in  the  p5th  year  of  his  age.  He  said  to  me 
the  other  day:  "I  am  sorry  the  Government  don't  pay 
it  all  at  once,  for  twenty-four  dollars  won't  buy  anything, 
and  it  is  always  gone  before  the  next  payment  arrives." 

When  his  term  of  service  expired  he  was  about  to  re- 
volunteer,  but  Col.  Elliott,  who  was  then  in  command  of 
a  regiment  in  the  army,  persuaded  him  to  return  home 


268     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

and  look  after  the  women  and  children  and  blood-stock, 
which  he  reluctantly  consented  to  do. 

After  spending  sometime  in  Tennessee  he  visited  a 
friend,  Col.  Faulkner,  of  Garrard  County,  Kentucky, 
who  invited  him  to  examine  a  lot  of  two-year-old  colts, 
some  of  which  he  contemplated  entering  in  a  sweepstake 
to  come  off  the  ensuing  fall. 

On  returning  to  the  house,  Mrs.  Faulkner  inquired  of 
Uncle  Berry  what  he  thought  of  her  colt,  to  which  he 
replied:  "I  consider  him,  Madam,  the  best  of  the  lot," 
at  which  she  was  very  much  gratified,  and  begged  that 
he  would  enter,  train  and  run  the  colt  in  the  stake,  to 
which  he  consented  and  won  the  race  with  ease. 

He  purchased  this  colt  of  Mrs.  Faulkner,  brought  him 
to  Tennessee,  where  he  won  several  races,  and  was  entered 
by  Col.  Elliott  in  the  4-mile  race  against  Oscar,  as 
above  stated. 

It  was  about  the  time  of  Oscar's  appearance  on  the  turf 
that  the  first  Jockey  Club  was  established  at  Nashville 
by  the  most  distinguished  men  of  Tennessee,  amongst 
them  Gen.  Jackson,  Col.  Ed  Ward,  Gen.  Carroll,  James 
Jackson,  Dr.  Sappington,  Dr.  Shreby,  Dr.  McNairy, 
Dr.  Butler,  William  Williams,  Colonel  Elliott,  Newton 
Cannon  and  other  leading  citizens  of  the  State. 

During  the  absence  of  Col.  Elliott  and  Uncle  Berry, 
Dr.  Sappington  employed  Monkey  Simon  to  ride  for 
him,  and  when  the  race  just  above  mentioned  came  off, 
Simon  rode  Oscar  against  Whip,  the  latter  owned  and 
run  by  his  old  friends  and  favorites,  Col.  Elliott  and 
Uncle  Berry.  Some  uneasiness  was  manifested  by  the 
friends  of  Oscar  who  was  high  strung  and  difficult  to  con- 
trol, lest  Simon  should  suffer  him  to  exhaust  himself  early, 
and  thereby  lose  the  race.  This  suspicion  was  altogether 
groundless,  for  Simon  always  rode  to  win,  if  possible; 


Tennessee  Oscar,  a  Horse  without  a  Rival     269 

if  he  had  a  weakness  it  was  in  being  too  eager  for  success 
in  a  close  contest. 

At  the  tap  of  the  drum  Oscar  went  off  under  a  tremen- 
dous head  of  steam,  and,  in  spite  of  all  Simon's  exertions  to 
restrain  him,  was  soon  50  or  60  yards  ahead,  which  served 
to  increase  the  doubts  of  Simon's  fidelity. 

Dr.  Shelby  dashed  across  the  field  and  ordered 
Simon  in  a  most  peremptory  tone  to  hold  his  horse, 
to  which  Simon  replied,  in  his  characteristic  style, 
"You  d — d  fool,  don't  you  see  his  mouth  is  wide  open." 

And  Simon  would  have  made  the  same  reply  to  Gen. 
Jackson  under  the  circumstances.  The  General  said  to 
Simon  on  one  occasion  just  before  the  horses  started  in  a 
very  important  race,  "  Now,  Simon,  when  my  horse  comes 
up  and  is  about  to  pass  you,  don't  spit  your  tobacco  juice 
in  his  eyes,  and  in  the  eyes  of  his  rider,  as  you  sometimes 
do";  to  which  Simon  replied,  "Well,  Gineral,  I've  rode  a 
good  deal  agin  your  horses,  but  (with  an  oath)  none  were 
ever  near  enough  to  catch  my  spit." 

On  another  occasion,  after  Maria  had  beaten  the  Gen- 
eral's favorite,  Pacolet,  and  when  no  friend  dared  to  take 
a  liberty  with  him,  Simon,  meeting  him  in  a  large  crowd, 
said:  "Gineral,  you  were  always  ugly,  but  now  you're 
a  show.  I  could  make  a  fortune  by  showing  you  as  you 
now  look,  if  I  had  you  in  a  cage  where  you  could  not  hurt 
the  people  who  came  to  look  at  you." 

Many  years  ago  I  was  riding  on  horseback  with  Col. 
Elliott  to  the  Nashville  races,  and  when  we  reached  a 
point  about  one  mile  from  the  ferry  at  Nashville,  on  the 
Gallatin  Road,  he  observed: 

"Here  is  the  place  where  negroes  were  annually  hired 
in  old  times  and  where  I  have  often  hired  Simon,  who,  on 
account  of  his  deformity  and  dissipated  habits,  usually 
cost  me  from  twelve  to  fifteen  dollars  per  annum. 


270     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

"On  one  occasion  Col.  Robert  C.  Foster,  guardian  of 
the  minor  children  to  whom  Simon  belonged,  conceiving 
it  to  be  his  duty,  bid  against  me,  and  ran  Simon  up  to 
thirty  dollars  —  the  then  price  of  a  good  field  hand. 

"  I  concluded  to  drop  Simon  on  the  Colonel's  hands  and 
take  the  chance  of  hiring  him  privately.  Simon  watched 
the  bidding  with  the  deepest  interest,  as  he  was  most 
anxious  to  remain  in  the  stable  and  enjoy  the  fame  and 
emoluments  of  riding  Haynie's  Maria  and  other  distin- 
guished winners.  When  I  indicated  that  I  would  bid  no 
more,  Simon  turned  to  the  Colonel  and  said  in  his  pecu- 
liarly sarcastic  manner,  with  his  head  laid  back  and  one 
eye  closed,  *  Colonel  Foster,  by  G — d,  I  am  not  a-selling, 
but  a-hirin'  for  only  one  year.'  The  Colonel,  who  was  a 
man  of  high  spirit  and  great  dignity  replied,  shaking  his 
cane  at  Simon,  'You  impudent  scoundrel,  do  you  know 
who  you  are  talking  to? '  Simon  with  the  most  aggravat- 
ing coolness,  replied/ 1  think  I  do,  and  if  I  am  not  mistaken 
you  are  the  same  gentleman  who  made  a  small  'speriment 
for  Governor  once'"  —  alluding  to  a  race  the  Colonel 
had  made  for  Governor  under  very  unfavorable  circum- 
stances, in  which  he  was  badly  beaten.  The  witticism  of 
Simon  created  much  mirth,  amidst  which  Colonel  Elliott 
got  him  at  the  next  bid. 

The  purses  at  that  period  were  unworthy  of  the  atten- 
tion of  so  superior  a  horse,  and  Dr.  Sappington  had  neither 
the  means  nor  disposition  to  travel  or  run  him  for  heavy 
matches;  Oscar  was  therefore,  when  sound  in  all  respects 
and  in  the  prime  of  his  racing  career,  withdrawn  from  the 
turf  and  died  at  1 1  years  old,  the  property  of  General  R. 
Desha  and  Mr.  Isaac  Bledsoe,  of  Sumner  County,  where 
he  left  some  fine  running  stock,  although  he  never  served 
more  than  two  or  three  thoroughbred  mares. 


APPENDIX 

LETTERS  FROM  ANDREW  JACKSON  TO  REV.  HARDY 
M.  CRYER 

A  dozen  or  more  letters  written  by  Andrew  Jackson  to  Rev. 
Hardy  M.  Cryer  are  in  possession  of  the  Tennessee  Historical  Society. 
Some  of  them  were  written  before  Jackson  was  elected  President 
and  others  while  he  was  President.  These  letters  add  confirmatory 
evidence  to  the  generally  accepted  view  that,  as  a  rule,  Jackson's 
enemies  were  all  bad,  his  friends  all  good;  that  toward  "neutrals," 
the  young,  "the  rank  and  file"  and  his  employees,  he  was  kind, 
courteous  and  considerate;  never  puffed  up  with  pride  nor  affecting 
superiority  over  his  friends  and  neighbors  among  the  "plain  people." 

These  letters  show,  also,  that  Jackson  always,  —  even  while  encom- 
passed by  his  enemies  in  Washington,  —  directed  the  details  of 
work  at  the  Hermitage;  and  that  he  was  nearly  always  hard  pressed 
for  money  and  beset  with  other  aggravations  of  farm  life  that  tend 
to  increase  the  population  of  cities. 

All  of  the  letters  are  in  Jackson's  handwriting,  and  the  portions 
here  used  are  precisely  as  he  wrote  them.  They  relate,  mostly,  to 
the  breeding  of  Jackson's  mares  to  Cryer's  horses,  and  kindred 
transactions. 

The  first  letter  of  the  collecton,  written  from  "Gallatine"  —  as 
Jackson  spelled  it  —  "Saturday  evening  Aug.  18,  1827,"  shows 
that  Jackson  had  ridden  out  to  see  Cryer,  26  years  his  junior;  when, 
if  the  truth  were  known,  there  were  many  men  and  boys  grouped 
around  him,  any  one  of  whom  would  have  felt  honored  with  an  order 
to  gallop  out  the  Long  Hollow  pike  and  tell  the  young  minister  that 
the  hero  of  New  Orleans  would  be  pleased  to  see  him  in  the  city. 
Jackson  was  great  enough  to  mix  with  the  common  herd  and  do  as 
ordinary  people.  In  concluding  this  letter  he  wrote:  "I  had  a  great 
wish  to  see  you  and  hope  you  &  your  lady  can  pay  us  the  promised 
visit  next  week." 

On  March  6,  1828,  while  Jackson's  campaign  for  the  Presidency 
was  in  full  swing,  he  sent  a  mare  to  Cryer's  farm;  and  a  letter  in 
which  he  promised  seven  other  mares  to  Stockholder  and  Sir  William, 
then  at  Cryer's.  In  this  letter  Jackson  observed:  "From  the  scarcity 
of  money  and  the  high  prices  at  which  fine  horses  stand,  I  have  almost 
determined  to  abandon  breeding  horses  and  turn  my  attention  to 


272  Appendix 

mules."    He  concludes:    "Mrs.  J.  unites  with  me  in  kind  respects 
to  you  and  Mrs.  Cryer  &  believe  me  your  friend"  —  etc. 

By  the  same  person  that  took  two  mares  to  Sir  William,  on  May 
3,  1828,  Jackson  wrote  despairingly  of  the  hard  times  and  prospects 
for  better;  nobody  in  the  Hermitage  neighborhood  had  the  money 
to  buy  Cryer' s  "negro  wench  and  children";  Jackson,  himself,  had 
been  forced  to  go  to  bank  to  get  money  to  pay  current  expenses;  he 
regretted,  therefore,  that  he  was  unable  to  help  Cryer;  but  added 
consolingly:  "My  Dr.  Sir  do  not  lose  heart,  — you  have  friends  & 
if  they  have  not  money,  they  have  credit  &  property  &  will  aid  you 
in  the  time  of  need,  as  much  as  they  can."  The  usual  conclusion: 
"Mrs.  J.  joins  me  in  kind  salutations  to  you  and  your  family." 

Here  is  one  in  full: 

"H-geMay  nth.  1828" 
"My  Dr  Sir 

"Your  note  of  yesterday  by  your  son  was  duly  reed  with  the 
mare  and  coalt  —  it  was  too  late  for  his  return  yesterday,  I  detained 
him  until  this  morning  —  it  is  now  raining,  &  if  it  holds  up  in  time, 
he  will  be  with  you  this  evening,  should  it  continue  to  rain,  I  will 
detain  him  until  tomorrow. 

"I  have  the  unpleasant  intelligence  to  communicate,  that  this 
morning  was  found  dead,  the  mare  brought  down  yesterday  by 
your  son  —  Having  company  when  she  arrived,  I  only  saw  her 
at  a  distance,  &  Charles  when  he  put  her  away  did  not  discover  her 
being  unwell  —  I  suppose  she  must  have  died  with  the  bolts  —  "He 
that  giveth  hath  the  right  to  take  away,"  and  at  those  things  I 
never  repine  —  I  have  lost  in  the  last  18  months,  at  least  $3000 
woth  of  horses,  &  my  favorite  gray  mare,  has  been  twice  ill  with  the 
grubs,  since  she  came  from  the  horse  — 

"I  hope  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  to  see  you  soon,  at  the  Hermitage 
therefore  shall  not  now  reply  to  your  former  letter,  barely  observing, 
that  the  honest  and  upright  man,  as  long  as  humanity,  virtue,  & 
charity  exists  in  society,  must  always  find  friends  in  the  day  of 
need,  —  when  this  ceases  to  be  so,  then  indeed,  has  the  social  compact 
failed  to  be  what  divinity  intended  by  the  wisdom  of  its  institution. 

"My  health  is  better  —  I  have  had  a  severe  attack,  but  hope  in 
a  few  days  to  regain  my  usual  strength,  when  pressing  business  will 
compel  me  to  Alabama  for  a  few  days  —  before  I  get  out,  I  would 
be  glad  to  see  you. 

"  With  the  kind  salutations  of  Mrs.  J.  &  myself  to  you  &  your 
family  believe  me  your 

friend 

Andrew  Jackson 
The  Revd.  H.  M.  Cryer  — 

In  1830  President  Jackson  and  his  kitchen  cabinet  were  deeply 
engrossed  in  rewarding  the  victors  and  in  trying  to  prevent  a  dis- 
solution of  his  official  cabinet;  but  these  perplexing  matters  did  not 


Appendix  273 

prevent  him  from  occasionally  stealing  away  from  Duff  Green  and 
Amos  Kendall  to  make  himself  comfortable  in  his  slippers,  with  his 
corn-cob  pipe,  —  if  tradition  be  true  —  and  writing  to  his  young 
clerical  friend  down  on  Station  Camp  Creek  about  "my  gray  stud 
colt,  Bolivar."  Jackson  considered  Bolivar  "one  of  the  purest 
blooded  horses  in  America"  —  "better  than  any  that  can  be  got 
in  Virginia  now"  —  and  had  great  hopes  of  him.  On  Jan.  10,  1830, 
he  wrote,  approving  some  action  Cryer  had  taken  with  reference 
to  Bolivar,  and,  continuing,  said  of  him: 

"  I  would  like  to  get  Col  Elliots  opinion  of  the  propriety  of  train- 
ing, and  running  him  in  the  spring,  if  he  thinks  well  of  it,  —  I  will 
give  him  fifty  dollars  for  training  him,  and  when  he  makes  the  experi- 
ment, if  he  chooses  to  enter  him  for  his  own  benefit,  he  may  do  so; 
if  not  I  will  pay  the  entrance,  &  run  him  for  the  benefit  of  my  son, 
if  Col  Elliot  thinks  his  situation  &  wind  will  justify  the  experiment 
—  I  am  of  the  belief,  that  by  nature,  if  his  breathing  had  not  been 
injured,  he  was  one  of  the  first  runners  ever  owned  in  America  — 
Dunwody  by  neglect  destroyed  him  as  a  runner  &  ruined  my  Oscar 
filly  also  as  a  runner.  Consult  Col  Elliott  in  whom  I  have  every  con- 
fidence, whether  it  is  prudent  to  try  him  again  upon  the  turf  —  if  he 
says  he  will  train  him,  &  think  he  can  run  him  in  credit,  let  him  be 
placed  wheresoever  the  Col  may  direct,  say  on  my  own  farm,  & 
treated  as  he  may  desire  until  the  proper  time  for  him  to  take  him 
for  training.  If  he  advises  him  not  again  to  be  trained,  then,  Sir, 
you  will  either  send  him  to  my  farm  or  place  him  at  a  stand  that 
you  may  select,  advertising  him  at  fifteen  Dollars  payable  within 
the  season,  or  twenty  out  &  in  proportion  the  single  leap  &  insur- 
ance." 

On  Feb.  28,  1830,  Jackson  wrote  another  letter  about  Bolivar  and 
told  Cryer  to  apply  certain  money  to  his  own  use  "  until  it  may  be 
more  convenient  for  you"  to  repay  it,  or  until  "my  wants  may  re- 
quire it." 

On  Jan.  17,  1832,  just  after  pulling  out  from  under  the  influenza; 
and  from  under  the  surgeon's  knife,  inserted  into  his  left  arm  to 
remove  a  Benton  slug,  deposited  17  years  previous;  and  while  still 
wrestling  "with  one  of  the  most  factions  corrupt  oppositions  in  the 
secrete  sessions  of  the  Senate  that  ever  disgraced  any  nation," 
Jackson  wrote  to  "My  Revd.  Friend:" 

"I  thank  you  for  your  friendly  offer  of  an  interest  in  your  fine 
Horse.  But  Andrew  is  now  married,  and  I  mean  to  throw  the  care 
of  the  farm  on  him,  I  shall  never  more  pester  myself  with  this  worlds 
wealth  —  My  only  ambition  is  to  get  to  the  Hermitage  so  soon  as  the 
interest  of  my  country  and  the  will  of  the  people  will  permit  me,  and 
there  to  set  my  House  in  order  &  to  go  to  sleep  along  side  of  My 
Dr  Departed  Wife." 


274  Appendix 

He  authorized  Cryer  to  settle  a  debt  owing  from  Andrew  Jackson, 
Jr.,  to  "my  friend  Mr.  Cotton,"  stating  that  he  "could  not  rest  until 
justice  was  done"  Cotton.  That  matter  settled,  he  added,  "I  give 
over  any  attention  to  colts  and  the  turf,"  but  intended  "keeping 
up  my  blood  stock  upon  my  farm"  and  "will  be  happy  to  hear  the 
blood  of  your  fine  horse  Crusader,  his  size  and  figure."  He  then 
concludes: 

"  I  will  write  you  again  soon,  if  I  can,  shall  expect  to  hear  from 
you  —  With  a  tender  of  my  best  wishes  to  your  lady  &  family  & 
the  request  that  you  will  kiss  little  Rachel  for  me  believe  me  your 
friend 

Andrew  Jackson" 

"  P.  S.  The  Vice  President  is  wielding  his  talents  and  showing  his 
vindictive  feelings  as  it  regards  Van  Buren  —  But  two  votes  he  has 
given  in  Secrete  Session,  it  is  said  by  some  of  his  former  friends,  has 
sunk  him  beneath  contempt  in  the  Senate. 

"The  Revd.  H.  M.  Cryer" 

Before  going  to  South  Carolina  to  buy  Crusader,  Cryer,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1831,  had  obtained  a  letter  of  introduction  from  the  Presi- 
dent to  Colonel  Singleton,  Crusader's  owner.  With  this  letter  the 
President  sent  Cryer  an  urgent  invitation  to  visit  him  at  the  White 
House. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  Mrs.  Cryer  it  appears  that  the  minister 
wrote  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  for  advice  about  a  second 
marriage.  The  President  answered  then  as  the  President  would 
answer  now,  and  Cryer  did  accordingly.  On  Feb.  10,  1834,  Jackson, 
then  engaged  in  the  great  Bank  Deposit  fight,  took  time  to  express 
his  approval,  in  tenderest  terms.  And  then  branching  off  on  the 
old  —  yet  ever  new  —  subject  of  race  horses,  he  showed  signs  of 
having  expunged  from  the  record  his  resolution  to  quit  the  turf. 
He  asked  Cryer  to  be  on  the  lookout  for  a  certain  trainer  and  to  call 
at  the  Hermitage,  examine  certain  colts,  and  give  his  opinion  of 
"their  appearance  &  promise  for  the  turf."  He  then  concludes: 

"I  have  great  confidence  in  my  citizen  as  a  stock  horse  and  wish 
to  bring  his  colts  early  on  the  turf  to  make  him  valuable  as  a  brood 
horse  —  look  at  him  and  give  me  your  opinion. 

"Present  me  kindly  to  your  Lady  &  family  &  kiss  little  Rachel 
for  me  &  believe  me  Yr  friend 

Andrew  Jackson 
The  Revd.  H.  M.  Cryer  — 

"P.  S.  I  send  for  your  perusal  Mr.  Rives  speech  on  the  removal 
of  the  Deposits  —  The  mamon  of  corruption  is  chained  &  will  be 
destroyed.  A.  J." 


ADDENDA 


The  illustration  of  Great  Britain  in  this  volume  is  from  a  photo- 
graph; the  illustrations  of  Herod  and  Matchem  are  from  steel 
prints  obtained  from  Cassell  &  Co.  of  London;  all  the  other  illus- 
trations of  horses  are  reproductions  of  steel  prints  that  appeared 
in  various  books  and  magazines  of  the  long  ago.  The  likeness 
of  Lexington  is  copied  from  "Frank  Forester's,"  "The  Horse  of 
America."  The  likenesses  here  shown  of  Sir  Archy,  Amer- 
ican Eclipse,  Boston  and  Glencoe,  appeared  first  in  "Forester's" 
history;  and  later  in  Wallace's  Stud  Book,  from  which  they  are 
copied.  The  Spirit  of  the  Times,  at  a  cost  of  more  than  $500, 
printed  a  steel  engraving  (12  x  15  inches)  of  Leviathan,  made 
from  a  portrait  now  in  possession  of  Mr.  Alex  Jackson  of  Mobile; 
the  illustration  of  this  horse  here  presented  is  a  copy  of  this  steel 
print.  AH  the  other  half  tones  of  horses  are  made  from  steel  prints 
that  appeared  in  The  Turf  Register. 

The  names  of  the  horses,  painters  and  engravers,  in  the  order 
stated,  were: 

SIR  CHARLES  (Cover  Design):  A.  Fisher;  J.  Cone.  THE 
GODOLPHIN  ARABIAN:  Stubbs;  Cone.  THE  DARLEY 
ARABIAN:  D.  Dalby;  J.  Cone.  FLYING  CHILDERS:  Sar- 
torius;  Longacre.  MATCHEM:  Eng.  by  J.  Scott  after  original 
by  W.  Webb.  O'Kelly's  ECLIPSE:  Stubbs;  F.  Butler.  HIGH- 
FLYER: Boulbee;  Francis  Humphreys.  GIMCRACK:  Stubbs; 
Longacre.  CITIZEN:  Clifton  Thompson;  Longacre.  DIOMED: 
Cook;  Longacre.  SIR  ARCHY:  A.  Fisher;  Capewell  &  Kimmel. 
TIMOLEON:  T.  Campbell;  Bannerman.  AMERICAN  ECLIPSE: 
A.  Fisher;  Capewell  &  Kimmel.  LEVIATHAN:  E.  Troye;  A. 
L.  Dick.  GLENCOE:  C.  Hancock;  J.  C.  Buttre.  BOSTON:  H. 
DeLattre;  Capewell  &  Kimmel.  PRIAM:  B.  Marshall;  copied 
by  W.  W.  Bannerman  from  original  by  Romney.  FASHION  and 
Joseph  Laird:  William  Wilson;  A.  L.  Dick.  GREY  EAGLE: 
E.  Troye;  A.  Halbert.  WAGNER  and  Willis,  the  Jockey:  E. 


276     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Troye;  A.  Halbert.  JOHN  BASCOMBE:  E.  Troye;  F.  Hum- 
phreys. LEXINGTON:  I.  Maurer;  J.  Duthie.  Herod  not  given. 

The  likeness  of  Andrew  Jackson  comes  second-handed  from  a 
photograph  of  a  portrait  presented  by  Jackson  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  Martin  of  Davidson  County,  Tennessee  in  December,  1814, 
while  they  were  in  New  Orleans.  This  portrait  was  regarded  as 
an  excellent  likeness  of  Jackson. 

The  half-tone  illustrations  here  presented  were  made  by  the 
Capitol  Engraving  Co.,  of  Nashville. 


B 

In  20  years  the  get  of  MARSKE  won  £75,000.  SLOE,  son  of 
Crab,  was  never  beat.  POT8OS  won  31  races.  SIR  PETER 
TEAZLE,  according  to  Osborne's  Hand  Book  of  the  English  Turf, 
sired  350  winners  of  prizes  amounting  to  126,726  sovs.,  besides 
34  cups.  Imp  BUZZARD  (in  England)  sired  189  winners  of  prizes 
amounting  to  52,553  sovs.,  besides  6  cups.  SELIM,  son  of  Buzzard, 
sired  152  winners  of  prizes  amounting  to  £55,253,  besides  the 
Whip  and  9  cups.  Died  1825.  RUBENS,  brother  to  Selim,  sired 
231  winners  of  £73,031,  besides  33  cups  and  one  Bowl.  Died  1829. 
Matchem's  best  son,  CONDUCTOR,  won  14  races  and  sired  52 
winners  of  prizes  worth  £21,999.  TRUMPATOR,  by  Conductor, 
won  8  of  14  races  and  sired  207  winners  of  prizes  worth  £65,741, 
besides  cups,  etc.  Died  in  1808,  aged  26.  IMPERATOR,  by  Con- 
ductor, won  13  races  and  sired  31  winners.  SORCERER,  by 
Trumpator,  won  16  races  and  sired  180  winners  of  prizes  worth 
£82,708,  besides  6  cups.  Sorcerer's  son,  SOOTHSAYER,  during 
his  brief  career  in  the  stud  in  England,  before  going  to  Russia,  got 
83  winners  of  29,286  sovs.  Sorcerer's  son,  COMUS,  winner  of  the 
Claret  in  1813,  and  9  other  races,  sired  222  winners  of  prizes  worth 
£54,892,  besides  3  cups.  WHISKEY,  by  Saltram,  sired  148  winners 
of  prizes  worth  more  than  £42,416.  TRAMP,  by  Dick  Andrews, 
won  9  races  and  was  regarded  as  the  stoutest  horse  of  his  time.  He 
sired  161  winners  of  67,501  sovs.  In  a  sketch  of  Tramp  copied  in 
The  TurJ  Register  in  June,  1836,  from  the  old  London  sporting  maga- 
zine, the  amount  won  by  Tramp's  get  is  the  same  as  here  stated 
on  the  authority  Osborne,  but  the  number  that  won  this  amount 
is  said  to  have  been  91,  and  their  names  are  given. 


Addenda  277 

On  the  English  turf,  in  1840,  5  of  imp  BELSHAZZAR'S  get 
won  9  prizes;  4  of  imp  GLENCOE'S  won  9;  17  of  imp  PRIAM'S 
won  55;  4  of  imp  ROWTON'S  35;  5  of  ST.  PATRICK'S  won  15; 
1 1  of  VELOCIPEDE'S  won  22;  6  of  SULTAN'S  2 1 ;  5ofSTUMPS' 
10;  7  of  PLENIPOTENTIARY'S  12;  9  of  MULEY'S  19;  9  of 
ACTAEON'S  19;  6  of  CAIN'S  16.  LITTLE  WONDER,  by 
Muley,  won  the  Derby  in  1840.  Crucifix,  one  of  the  three  Oaks 
winners  got  by  Priam,  produced  SURPLICE,  who  won  the  Derby 
and  the  St.  Leger  in  1848. 


Imp  JUNIPER,  by  Babraham,  won  14  of  18  races  and  ran 
second  in  the  four  he  lost. 

GIMCRACK,  a  winner,  himself,  of  28  of  37  races,  passed  his 
winning  abilities  on  to  succeeding  generations  in  America,  through 
his  sons  Medley  and  Clockfast.  Medley,  like  Sir  Archy,  could  get 
a  winner  on  any  sort  of  a  thoroughbred  mare  —  and  some  times  on 
mares  that  were  not  thoroughbred.  Clockfast,  who  was  imported 
six  or  seven  years  later  than  Medley,  was  out  of  a  mare  by  Regulus. 
Lady  Lightfoot,  Black  Maria,  Tuckahoe  and  Boston  were  among 
Clockfast's  distinguished  descendants. 

Considering  their  careers  both  on  the  turf  and  in  the  stud  the 
contest  for  first  honors  among  all  Sir  Archy's  sons,  among  breeders 
of  their  day,  lay  between  BERTRAND  and  SIR  CHARLES. 

Up  to  March  3,  1827  BERTRAND  had  won  13  of  15  races,  6 
of  which  were  of  4-mile  heats,  3  of  3-mile  heats.  His  two  defeats 
were  in  3-mile  heat  races.  His  contest  with  Aratus  and  Creeping 
Kate,  3-mile  heats,  at  Charleston,  was  one  of  the  most  famous  in  the 
history  of  the  turf.  Aratus  and  Creeping  Kate  "combined"  against 
Bertrand.  In  the  first  heat  Kate  ran  so  as  to  hold  her  distance 
only,  leaving  Aratus  to  take  the  first  heat,  which  he  did  by  half  a 
length,  in  a  desperate  struggle  in  which  he  and  Bertrand  were  never 
separated  a  length.  In  the  second  heat  Aratus  ran  so  as  to  hold  his 
distance  only,  leaving  Kate  to  take  the  heat,  which  she  did  by 
half  a  length.  It  was  now  up  to  Bertrand.  He  took  the  track  and 
kept  it,  beating  Kate  by  a  length,  Aratus  again  running  behind  to 
keep  himself  fresh  for  the  next  heat.  Kate  was  then  withdrawn 
and  Aratus  came  forward  to  finish  Bertrand  who  had  run  under 


278       Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

whip  and  spur  in  all  three  heats.  Aratus'  rest  during  two  successive 
heats  enabled  him  to  take  the  lead,  Bertrand  hanging  to  his  haunches. 
"In  the  second  round  Bertrand  made  a  desperate  rush  and  ran 
locked  with  Aratus  for  near  half  a  mile.  Expectation  ran  on  tip- 
toe at  this  juncture;  and  when  at  the  turn  Bertrand  was  compelled 
to  fall  in,  all  feared  the  result.  On  the  third  and  last  round,  at  the 
same  point,  Bertrand  made  his  last  push  and  succeeded  in  passing 
his  antagonist  and  taking  the  track.  Aratus  now  hung  on  his 
haunches  until  the  last  quarter,  when  the  great  and  last  effort  was 
made,  and  the  heat  was  won  by  Bertrand  by  half  a  length."  Time 
5 : 48  —  5 : 47  —  5:52  —  5:53.  Twelve  miles,  23 : 20;  which  was 
half  a  minute  better  than  the  12  miles  (at  three  heats)  of  Eclipse 
and  Henry,  three  years  previous.  Aratus  was  by  Director  (by 
Sir  Archy),  dam  by  imp  Sir  Harry;  Creeping  Kate  by  Sir  Archy, 
dam  by  Potomac;  Bertrand's  dam  was  Eliza  by  imp  Bedford. 
Eliza's  dam  was  imp  Mambrina  whose  dam  was  by  Blank. 

The  best  2-mile  time  —  3 : 43  —  made  in  the  United  States  up 
to  1835  was  said  to  have  been  made  by  GALLATIN  (by  imp 
Bedford),  3  years,  in  1802;  and  by  PEACEMAKER  (by  Diomed), 
4  years,  in  1804.  See  Turf  Register,  Vol.  7,  p.  n. 

Oft  repeated  entreaties  by  The  TurJ  Register  to  the  owners  of 
SIR  CHARLES  for  an  account  of  his  performances  brought  only 
a  hand  bill  from  which  it  appeared  that  he  had  run  26  races  and  won 
20,  4  of  which  were  of  4-mile  heats,  4  of  3-mile  heats,  6  of  2-mile 
heats;  in  6,  distances  not  given.  Of  the  races  lost  one  was  of 
3-mile  heats;  distance  of  others  not  given.  Hand  bill  did  not 
state  time  in  any  instance.  Sir  Charles'  dam  was  by  imp  Citizen; 
—  by  Commutation;  —  by  imp  Dare  Devil;  —  by  imp  Shark;  — 
by  imp  Fearnought. 

SALLY  HOPE  won  21  of  25  contests  in  one  year.  INDUSTRY, 
as  far  as  known,  ran  9  races  and  won  all  except  his  last  in  which  he 
broke  down.  He  was  a  horse  of  great  speed  and  bottom  and  a 
fine  sire.  His  dam  was  by  Ball's  Florizel,  g.  dam  by  Symmes'  Wildair. 


In  a  contribution  to  The  TurJ  Register  of  July,  1832,  one  of  its 
regular  correspondents,  "Panton,"  of  Nashville,  gave  the  names 
of  some  thoroughbred  stallions  said  to  have  stood  in  Nashville  or 


Addenda  279 

vicinity  prior  to  1809.     Five  horses  are  mentioned  as  being  there 
prior  to  1800.    The  first  paragraph  in  the  list  is  in  these  words: 

"In  1788  b.  h.  WHY  NOT,  son  of  Fearnought,  brought  from  Mary- 
land to  Tennessee,  by  General  Robertson;  very  good." 

Other  horses  prior  to  1800  were,  according  to  "Panton": 

"  1792,  COMET  (Lewis')  by  old  Janus;  good  stallion.  1792,  JUPITER 
(Cross')  by  old  Janus;  good  quarter  racer.  1791-8,  Weakley's 
WILDAIR,  by  Symmes'  Wildair,  out  of  a  thoroughbred;  very  good 
stallion.  Was  exchanged  to  Kentucky,  1799,  for  GREY  ALFRED  by 
Lindsay's  Arabian,  who  stood  a  season  or  two  and  returned  to 
Kentucky." 

"Panton"  does  not  give  his  authority  for  these  statements. 

Imp  BARONET  won  for  the  Prince  of  Wales  the  Oatland 
stake  at  Ascot,  1791-92,  100  subs.,  100  guineas  each.  On  this 
race  the  Prince  took  in  17,000  guineas. 

From  The  Carthage  Gazette  and  Friend  oj  the  People,  and  from 
several  Nashville  papers,  all  in  possession  of  the  American  Anti- 
quarian Society  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  the  librarian,  Mr.  Clarence  S. 
Brigham,  has  copied  and  sent  names  of  stallions  (with  pedigrees 
as  given  in  the  advertisements),  that  stood  in  Tennessee  in  years 
not  covered  by  papers  on  file  in  Nashville: 

ALBORAK,  by  Truxton,  dam  by  Maj.  William  Blackmore's 
old  horse,  Sterne;  —  by  Pilgarlick,  son  of  old  Janus.  Advertised 
by  Richard  Britten  to  stand  season  1811  on  Middle  Fork  of  Goose 
Creek;  $4  to  $8.  Certificate  by  Reuben  Cage. 

ALPHEUS,  by  imp  Jonah,  dam  Green's  mare  by  Meade's 
Celer,  etc.,  to  Jolly  Roger.  Imp  Jonah  was  by  Escape,  dam  by 
Herod;  —  by  Snap.  In  1810,  stood  at  John  F.  Moore's,  Mill  Creek, 
5  miles  from  Nashville. 

COLLECTOR,  by  Mark  Anthony,  dam  by  imp  Centinel  by 
Blank.  Stood,  1810,  at  Absalom  Page's,  Eaton's  Station,  one  mile 
north  of  Nashville.  (Collector  died  in  Davidson  County  in  1813. 
He  was  famous  as  sire  of  Snap-Dragon  and  Haphazard,  Virginia 
horses.) 

FORTUNATUS,  ch.  by  imp  Shark;  dam  by  Celer;  —  by  Capt. 
John  Ware's  Fearnought,  ofGoochland  County,  Virginia.  In  1804, 
advertised  by  P.  W.  Humphreys  and  John  Faulkner,  to  stand  three 
days  each  week  at  Maj.  C.  Stump's,  four  miles  from  Nashville  on 


280    Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

White's  Creek;  $8;  $10.  Advertisement  of  sweepstakes  in  same 
issue  of  this  paper. 

PANTALOON,  by  imp  Pantaloon,  dam  Capt.  Ewing's  noted 
running  mare,  Kitty.  Stood  1811  at  Anthony  Hogin's,  Martin's 
Creek,  Jackson  County;  $10;  $20.  Imp  Pantaloon  was  by  Herod, 
dam  by  Matchem,  and  was  owned  by  Benjamin  Harrison,  signer 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  at  his  famous  estate,  Brandon, 
Virginia  —  or  by  a  son  of  the  same  name. 

PHENOMENON,  by  imp  Diomed,  dam  by  imp  Master  Stevens; 
—  by  Flimnap;  he  by  imp  Fearnought.  Bred  by  Jourdan  Reese, 
Dinwiddie  County,  Virginia.  Season  1810  at  Thomas  Fowlkes', 
"on  head  waters  of  Dry  Creek,  two  miles  from  Haysboro";  $4 
per  leap. 

PRESIDENT,  by  Goliah,  dam  by  Dandridge's  — ;  —  by  imp 
Janus;  —  by  imp  Traveller.  Goliah  by  Tippoo  Saib,  dam  by 
Blackburn's  Why  Not,  son  of  imp  Fearnought;  —  by  imp  Forester. 
Advertised  by  Simeon  Buford,  Season  1809.  Advertised  by  James 
Hicks  to  stand  in  Franklin  in  1810. 

Buford,  in  advertising  President  in  the  Nashville  paper,  did  not 
give  his  pedigree.  As  stated  in  the  Carthage  paper,  and  here  shown, 
it  is  different  from  the  pedigree  given  on  page  52  of  this  volume 
from  information  obtained  elsewhere. 

WASHINGTON,  by  Comet,  dam  Pealon,  by  imp  Black-and- 
all-BIack.  Season  1809  at  John  and  James  Cochran's,  mouth  of 
Caney  Fork  River;  $3  to  $12. 

YOUNG  CELAH,  by  old  Celah,  dam  a  full  blooded  Eclipse 
mare  (which  Eclipse  is  not  stated).  Season  1809  at  James  Ware's, 
Goose  Creek.  Services:  Single  leap  3  barrels  of  corn;  season,  10 
barrels;  to  insure,  20  barrels. 

YOUNG  CYRON,  by  imp  Cyron,  dam  William  Stevenson's 
Arabian  mare,  Romping  Nell.  Imp  Cyron  by  Florizel,  sire  of  imp 
Diomed.  Season  1810  at  Morgan  Williams',  Carthage,  and  Solo- 
man  Blear's,  Peyton's  Creek.  Services  $4  to  $16. 

YOUNG  DIOMED  (pedigree  previously  given)  was  adver- 
tised in  1810  by  John  Elliott,  of  Brunswick  County,  Virginia,  to 
stand  that  season  at  Holland's  Ferry,  6  miles  east  of  Columbia, 
Tenn.;  $4  per  leap;  $15  to  insure. 

The  pedigrees  of  Alborak,  Collector  and  Young  Diomed  are  the 
only  ones  above  given  that  can  be  verified  from  stud  books.  Stud 
book  compilers  did  not  realize  the  extent  of  Massachusetts  enter- 
prise. 


Addenda  281 

Charges  for  services  of  these  stallions  were  payable  in  all  sorts 
of  produce,  including  country  linen,  beeswax,  saltpetre  and  whiskey. 

E 

LEXINGTON  ran  seven  races,  his  only  defeat  being  by  his  half 
brother  Lecompte,  in  7:26  —  7:38!,  the  best  4-mile  race  to  that 
time  run  in  America.  In  a  race  against  Lecompte's  time  of  7:26, 
on  a  wager  of  $25,000  between  the  owners  of  the  two  horses,  Lexing- 
ton, at  New  Orleans,  April  2,  1855,  ridden  by  Gilbert  W.  Patrick, 
103  Ibs.  (3lbs.  over  weight),  ran  in  7:194,  which  remained  the 
4-mile  record  until  his  grandson,  Fellowcraft,  lowered  it  to  7:19!, 
at  Saratoga,  in  1874. 

Lexington's  dam,  Alice  Carneal,  was  by  imp  Sarpedon  who  was 
in  the  male  line  from  O' Kelly's  Eclipse,  through  King  Fergus, 
Beningbrough,  Orville  and  Emilius. 

Just  after  the  civil  war,  Lexington's  get  dominated  the  American 
turf  nearly,  if  not  fully,  as  much  as  Sir  Archy's  get  did  in  their  day. 
Two,  especially,  of  Lexington's  get  —  Asteroid  and  Kentucky  — 
were  the  sensations  of  their  time.  Both  were  grandsons  of  Glencoe, 
Asteroid  being  out  of  Nebula  and  Kentucky  out  of  Magnolia. 
Asteroid  ran  only  in  1864-5;  won  a^  °f  h*s  twelve  races;  his  win- 
nings $12,800.  Kentucky,  in  five  years,  1863-7,  inclusive,  started 
24  times  and  lost  twice;  his  total  winnings  $35,950.  Both  Asteroid 
and  Kentucky  were  entered  for  the  "Great  Inauguration  Stake,"  on 
the  opening  of  Jerome  Park,  in  October,  1866.  Kentucky  won  the 
stake,  but  the  result  might  have  been  different  if  Asteroid  had  not 
broke  down  in  training. 

Lexington  was  a  blood  bay,  15!  hands;  all  four  feet  white  above 
the  ankles;  a  large  star;  and  a  white  stripe  down  his  face,  extending 
over  the  upper  lip.  According  to  Bruce  "he  was  not  only  the  best 
race  horse  America  has  ever  produced,  but  the  emperor  of  stallions." 
How  Lexington  would  have  fared  in  as  many  races  as  was  run  by 
Boston  is  mere  conjecture.  Boston's  record  being  known,  the  author 
is  inclined  to  agree  with  Busbey. 


Of  the  stallions  advertised  in  1840-42,  inclusive,  POST  BOY  con- 
tinued at  Murfreesboro  during  1840-41.  AMERICAN  ECLIPSE 
was  at  James  Swanson's,  Williamson  County,  in  1840,  and  the  next 
year  at  A.  Whitlock's,  Limestone  County,  Alabama.  FOP  stood 


282     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

at  Col.  F.  C.  H.  Miller's,  Chapel  Hill,  in  1840.  In  1841  PICTON 
and  imp  VOLNEY  were  in  Fayette  County,  and  SHAKESPEARE 
in  Davidson.  In  1842  SHAKESPEARE  was  at  Robert  Hallum's, 
in  Wilson  County. 

Among  the  new  stallions  introduced,  1840-1842,  were  ROA- 
NOKE,  by  Sir  Archy,  dam  by  Coeur  de  Lion,  who  stood  in  Giles 
County;  imp  PUZZLE,  by  Reveller,  dam  by  Juniper,  who  stood 
in  Carter  County;  SHARK,  by  American  Eclipse,  dam  Lady  Light- 
foot  by  Sir  Archy,  who  stood  at  Independence,  Williamson  County; 
nine  sons  of  Leviathan  who  stood  in  various  sections;  and  two 
Arabians  who  stood  at  J.  G.  Smith's,  Jefferson  County.  In 
1842  imp  PRIAM  stood  his  first  season  in  Tennessee,  at  L.  P. 
Cheatham's,  Robertson's  Bend;  service  $150.  He  died  at  Belle 
Meade  in  1847.  BAREFOOT,  a  St.  Leger  winner  (by  Tramp), 
imported  into  Massachusetts  in  1828,  died  from  a  snake  bite  at 
David  Morrison's,  Tipton  County,  Tennessee,  in  1840.  Three  of 
his  get,  Clara  Howard,  Tramp  and  Ajax  were  prominent  in  Long 
Island  stables.  Imp  CLARET,  by  imp  Chateau  Margaux,  dam 
by  Partizan,  stood  at  William  Y.  Fuqua's,  Bolivar,  at  $100.  His 
blood  was  rich  in  strains  of  Herod,  Matchem,  Eclipse  and  Snap. 
Claret  was  imported  into  Virginia  in  1834. 


The  inducements  offered  certain  sections  of  the  United  States 
to  make  use  of  the  opportunities  nature  has  put  at  their  door  is 
brought  vividly  to  mind  by  Joseph  Osborne's  (English)  Horse 
Breeders  Hand  book,  1889-90.  The  author  quotes  another  authority, 
Count  Lehndorff,  to  the  effect  that  the  soil  and  climate  of  the  United 
States  "gradually  restores  the  whole  nature  of  the  horse  to  its 
pristine  vigor,  and  makes  the  American  racer  appear  eminently 
qualified  to  exercise  an  invigorating  influence  on  the  constitution 
of  the  thoroughbred  in  the  mother  country,  enfeebled,  perhaps, 
by  oft  repeated  inbreeding." 

Osborne  agrees  with  the  author  that  the  United  States  "appears 
the  most  promising  recruiting  ground  for  such  purposes,"  and  adds: 

"The  tendency  to  lose  bone  as  they  gain  in  general  refinement, 
which  becomes  more  conspicuous  among  the  rank  and  file  of  our 
own  thoroughbreds,  might  best  be  averted  by  a  re-introduction 
of  our  old  blood  in  new  channels,  from  a  land  whose  richness  of 
herbage  is  so  calculated  to  provide  the  lacking  quality.  My  own 


Addenda  283 

observation  tends  to  the  conclusion  that  the  finest  bone  comes  as 
a  rule  from  the  best  grass,  which,  it  is  well  known,  is  raised  on  a 
limestone  sub-stratum,  after  which  that  of  the  red  sand  stone  has 
been  reckoned  the  best.  But  though  much  of  our  own  grass  lands 
(particularly  in  Ireland)  furnish  good  bone  making  material,  they 
can  scarcely  compare  in  this  particular  with  the  wide  plains  of 
herbage  in  ...  America  .  .  .  Besides  this,  if  I  am  to  credit  the 
opinion  of  keen  observers  of  the  young  stock  of  America,  added  to 
those  I  have  seen  myself,  bone  and  substance  appear  to  be  their 
distinguishing  quality.  And  .  .  .  they  have  persistently  progressed 
in  the  matter  of  speed." 

This  was  written  before  it  was  known  that  some  so-called  "red 
sandstone"  in  this  country  was,  in  fact,  phosphate  rock,  and  that 
this  bone-making  phosphate  enters,  more  or  less,  into  all  the  grasses 
of  the  principal  running-horse  and  trotting-horse  counties  of  Middle 
Tennessee. 

What  could  be  made  England's  recruiting  ground  could,  also, 
be  made  the  recruiting  ground  of  Continental  Europe,  which  will 
be  sadly  in  need  of  recruits  at  the  close  of  the  present  war. 


Four  pocket  size  stud  books  kept  by  Rev.  Hardy  M.  Cryer, 
containing  names  of  men  who  sent  mares  to  Stockholder,  Sir  William, 
Arab  and  Luzborough,  show  more  clearly  than  any  other  evidence 
the  author  has  found,  the  wide  extent  to  which  the  breeding  of 
thoroughbreds  prevailed  among  all  classes,  irrespective  of  occupa- 
tion. Among  the  patrons  of  Cryer's  horses  were  Rev.  A.  Martin 
who  sent  Twilight  by  Rifleman;  Rev.  Martin  Clark,  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  who  sent  a  sorrel  filly  by  Conqueror;  Rev.  Fountain  E. 
Pitts,  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  who  sent  a  mare  called  ^Preacher;  .and 
Rev.  Robert  Paine,  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  who  sent  a  mare  by  Stately. 

Rev.  Martin  Clark  lived  in  Rutherford  County.  Rev.  Fountain 
E.  Pitts  was  among  the  leaders  in  the  church.  Rev.  Robert  Paine 
—  when  he  sent  his  Stately  mare  to  Stockholder  in  1827  —  was 
Presiding  elder  of  the  Nashville  District,  and  on  his  rounds  from 
Duck  river  to  Dover  doubtless  learned  the  necessity  of  having  a 
horse  that  could  "stay  the  distance."  Doubtless  his  good  steeds 
facilitated  his  good  deeds  and  helped  him  to  rise  to  the  place  of 
Bishop. 


284    Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

These  stud  books  show  that  Cryer's  horses  were  patronized  by 
practically  all  the  prominent  breeders  and  turfmen  named  hereto- 
fore in  this  volume,  from  Andrew  Jackson  and  John  Catron,  down, 
and  by  scores  not  mentioned.  Among  the  unmentioned  names  that 
have  a  familiar  sound  to  citizens  of  Davidson  and  adjacent  counties 
are:  Gallatin  Donoho,  William  B.  Lewis,  Sam  Bugg,  Dr.  Hobson, 
Jacob  Gillespie,  Dr.  Tazewell  Upshaw,  A.  H.  Douglass,  Joseph 
Lauderdale,  Col.  Woodfolk,  Dr.  Tim  Walton,  John  Overton,  Arch 
W.  Overton,  Bennett  Douglass,  Moses  Ridley,  John  Carr,  James 
House,  Norvell  Douglass,  William  H.  Douglass,  Dr.  Franklin,  Dr. 
Briggs,  Thomas  M.  Hart,  William  Walton,  Joseph  Litton,  William 
Hadley,  Dr.  Gentry  and  Capt.  Gooch. 

Under  the  head  of  "Lebanon  Class,"  in  one  book,  appear  the 
names  of  Ben  T.  Motley,  Col.  Robert  M.  Burton,  and  others.  Under 
the  head  "Murfreesboro  Class"  in  one  book  appear  the  names  of 
Charles  Ready  and  others. 

These  entries  show,  also,  that  nearly  all  the  mares  were  thorough- 
bred. An  entry  dated  Oct.  3,  1827,  signed  by  O.  Shelby  and  H.  M. 
Cryer,  dividing  cash  and  accounts,  shows  that  for  Stockholder's 
services  during  that  year  they  had  already  received  $1,005,  an<^ 
had  $1,655  coming  to  them.  And  Stockholder  was  only  one  among 
many. 

I 

At  the  Nashville  Jockey  Club's  meeting,  October,  1843,  besides 
The  Peyton  Stake,  The  Cumberland  Stake,  $3,670;  The  Trial 
Stake,  $9,000;  The  Alabama  Stake,  $17,000;  five  other  stakes 
aggregating  $1,970;  and  several  Jockey  Club  purses,  made  up  the 
program,  the  total  amount  of  stakes  and  purses  being  more  than 
$61,000. 

Of  the  13  subscribers  to  The  Cumberland  Stake,  for  2-year-olds, 
only  two  started:  David  Heinsohn's  CONSUL,  JR.,  by  imp  Consol, 
out  of  imp  The  Nun's  Daughter  by  Filho  da  Puta,  and  Hugh 
John  Kirkman's  bay  filly  by  imp  Leviathan,  out  of  imp  Florestine 
by  Whisker.  This  was  a  well  contested  race  and  was  won  in  fine 
style  by  CONSUL,  JR.  Two-mile  heats;  time  4:16  —  4:12  — 
4:23.  The  course  "a  hodge-podge  of  mud  and  water." 

THE  TRIAL  STAKE.  —  The  Trial  Stake  was  run  on  the  same 
day  as  The  Cumberland  Stake.  This  was  a  contest  between  3-year- 
olds;  26  subscribers  at  $1,000  each,  half  forfeit,  or  $250  if  declared 
by  January  i,  1842.  Colts  86  pounds,  fillies  83  pounds.  Two- 
mile  heats.  Three  started. 


Addenda  285 

Col.  Wade  Hampton's  b.  f.  MARGARET  WOOD,  by 
imp  Priam,  out  of  Maria  West  (Wagner  and  Fanny's 
dam)  by  Marion  Jas.  Welco.  311 

Lucius  J.  Folk's  (Geo.  W.  Cheatham  &  Co.'s)  ch.  f.  LIA- 
TUNA,  by  imp  Ainderby,  out  of  imp  Jenny  Mills  by 
Whisker Monk  232 

Col.  Jo  C.  Guild's  ch.  f.  by  imp  Leviathan,  out  of  Proser- 
pine   i  2  dist. 

Time,  4:04^  —  4:12^  —  4:17^. 

"The  Priam  filly  was  the  favorite,  but  the  betting  was  not  very 
spirited.  After  several  false  starts  they  got  off,  the  Leviathan 
filly  cutting  out  the  work  with  the  favorite  laying  2d.  The  Levia- 
than won  the  heat  cleverly  as  Margaret  Wood  never  made  a  stroke 
for  it,  and  the  Ainderby  filly  was  unable  to  do  more  than  force 
the  running.  After  this  heat  the  Leviathan  filly  had  the  call  in 
the  betting.  Margaret  Wood  trailed  to  the  last  quarter,  where  she 
made  a  brilliant  challenge,  and  after  a  prodigious  brush  won  the 
heat  on  the  post  by  half  a  neck  only!  In  the  3d  heat  Margaret 
Wood  made  all  the  running,  and  won  by  nearly  a  hundred  yards." 

Other  nominations  (all  made  in  1839)  in  this  stake  were: 

James  Jackson  named  produce  of  imp  Gallopade  and  imp  Glencoe. 

Samuel  Ragland  named  produce  of  Preston's  dam  and  Othello. 

Thomas  Watson  named  produce  of  imp  Pickle  and  imp  Glencoe. 

Willis  H.  Boddy  named  produce  of  Oscar  s  sister  and  imp  Leviathan. 

L.  P.  Cheatham  named  produce  of  Isabella  and  imp  Priam. 

Wm.  H.  Polk  named  produce  of  imp  Trinket  and  imp  Ainderby. 

R.  K.  Polk  named  produce  of  Selia  Burns  and  imp  Ainderby. 

Nich.  Davis  named  produce  of  imp  Design  and  Count  Badger. 

E.  H.  Boardman  named  produce  of  imp  Plenty  and  imp  Consol. 

J.  W.  Camp  named  produce  of  Vanity  and  imp  Leviathan. 

Hick.  Lewis  named  produce  of  Salome  and  imp  Luzborough. 

H.  Dickerspn  named  produce  of  Mary  Smith  and  imp  Leviathan. 

George  Elliott  named!  produce  of  Hibernia  and  imp  Leviathan. 

Samuel  Ragland  named  produce  of  Othello's  dam  and  imp  Levia- 
than. 

Alex.  Barrow  named  produce  of  Lilac  and  imp  Glencoe. 

T.  Kirkman  named  produce  of  imp  Gutty  and  imp  Glencoe. 

Wm.  Wynn  named  produce  of  Victoria  and  Picton. 

E.  H.  Boardman  named  produce  of  Sarah  Bell  and  imp  Consol. 

Isaac  Lane  &  James  Jackson  named  produce  of  an  Aaron  mare 
and  imp  Glencoe. 

Also  Isaac  Lane  &  James  Jackson  named  produce  of  Harriet  and 
imp  Glencoe. 

Thos.  T.  Hurt  named  produce  of  Blackbird  and  imp  Ainderby. 

W.  Hampton  named  produce  of  Bay  Maria  and  imp  Priam. 

John  S.  Corbin  named  produce  of  imp  My  Lady  and  imp  Priam. 


286     Making  the  American  Thoroughbred 

Two  Consuls,  4  Priams,  4  Ainderbys,  6  Leviaathns,  6  Glencoes; 
the  other  sires  one  each. 

THE  ALABAMA  STAKE.  — The  best  race  of  the  three  great 
events  was  The  Alabama  Stake,  for  4-year-olds;  colts  100  pounds, 
fillies  97  pounds.  Fifteen  subscribers  at  $2,000  each;  half  forfeit  or 
$500  if  declared  by  January  I,  1841;  the  second  horse  to  receive 
back  his  stake.  Three-mile  heats.  Three  starting. 

Lucius  J.  Folk's  (Geo.  W.  Cheatham  &  Co.'s)  ch.  c.  AM- 
BASSADOR, by  Plenipotentiary,  out  of  imp  Jenny 
Mills  by  Whisker Monk  i  I 

Thomas  Kirkman's  ch.  f.  CRACOVIENNE  (own  sister 
to  Reel),  by  imp  Glencoe,  out  of  imp  Gallopade  by 
Catton 2  2 

Capt.  N.  Davis'  ch.  c.  JOE  BRADLEY,  by  imp  Levia- 
than —  imp  Design  by  Tramp dist. 

Charles  Bosley's  &  Henry  M.  Clay's  gr.  f.  by  imp  Philip, 

out  of  Gamma's  dam  by  Sir  Richard dist. 

Time,  5:59  —  5:54.     Track  tough  and  heavy. 

"Our  reporter,"  said  The  Spirit  oj  the  Times,  "writes  that  this 
was  one  of  the  best  races  he  ever  witnessed.  The  Glencoe  filly, 
Cracovienne,  (sister  to  Reel,  Waltz,  Fandango,  and  Cotillion,) 
was  the  favorite  at  2  to  i  against  the  field.  She  went  off  with  the 
lead  and  maintained  it  for  three  quarters  of  a  mile,  when  Ambassa- 
dor challenged  and  passed  her  at  quarter  horse  speed.  Indeed 
Monk  could  not  restrain  him,  and  at  the  close  of  the  ist  mile  he 
led  the  field  fifty  yards!  At  the  close  of  the  2d  mile  Joe  Bradley 
was  in  difficulty,  and  the  Philip  filly  already  out  of  her  distance. 
On  the  last  quarter  Barney  brought  up  Cracovienne,  but  finding 
he  could  not  reach  Ambassador,  he  pulled  up  and  fell  just  within 
his  distance,  while  the  other  two  were  no  where!  Joe  Bradley  was 
distanced  by  about  two  lengths,  while  Gamma's  half  sister  was 
beaten  into  fits.  The  prejudice  against  the  Plenipo  stock  served 
to  keep  Cracovienne  the  favorite,  notwithstanding  the  show  she 
made  in  the  ist  heat.  In  the  2d,  she  made  several  ineffectual 
efforts  for  the  lead,  which  merely  demonstrated  the  colt's  superior- 
ity, as  he  was  never  caught,  and  won  by  50  yards!" 

Other  nominations  in  this  stake  were: 

James  Jackson  named  ch.  c.  by  imp  Glencoe,  out  of  Waxlight. 
Maj.  Samuel  Ragland  named  b.  f.  by  imp  Glencoe,  out  of  Othello's 
dam. 

R.  K.  Polk  named  b.  f.  by  The  Colonel,  out  of  imp  Pledge. 

E.  H.  Boardman  named  b.  f.  by  imp  Consol,  out  of  imp  Woful. 


Addenda  287 

W.  H.  Polk  named  ch.  c.  by  The  Colonel,  out  of  imp  Trinket. 

Jesse  Cage  named  gr.  f.  by  imp  Leviathan,  out  of  Fanny  Maria. 

Col.  Geo.  Elliott  named  ch.  c.  (bro.  to  Sarah  Bladen)  by  imp 
Leviathan  —  Morgiana. 

Geo.  W.  Polk  named  ch.  f.  by  Glaucus,  out  of  imp  Primrose. 

Col.  J.  W.  Camp  named  ch.  c.  by  imp  Luzborough,  out  of  Sally 
Dancey. 

Oliver  Towles  named  ch.  c.  by  imp  Leviathan,  out  of  Molly  Long. 

Col.  Wm.  Wynn  named  b.  f.  by  imp  Priam,  out  of  Flirtilla  Jun. 

Two  The  Colonels,  3  Glencoes,  4  Leviathans;  the  other  sires  one 
each. 

Among  sires  of  nominations  to  both  The  Trial  and  The  Alabama 
Stakes,  note  the  predominance  of  imported  blood;  also  note  that 
American  Eclipse,  who  lived  until  1847,  had  no  get  among  the 
entries. 


Walter  O.  Parmer,  who  came  from  Greenville,  Alabama,  to 
Tennessee,  in  1881,  inherited  from  his  father,  Dr.  C.  D.  Parmer, 
and  his  grandfather,  Col.  Ephraim  Parmer,  a  love  for  the  thorough- 
bred, and  has  been  all  his  life  an  ardent  devotee  of  the  turf. 
Despite  adverse  legislation  he  has  maintained  the  largest  breeding 
establishment  in  the  state  since  the  passing  of  Belle  Meade.  At 
the  dispersal  of  this  famous  stud,  Mr.  Parmer  purchased  The 
Commoner  and  about  twenty  of  the  best  mares,  and  established 
them  at  Edenwold.  Since  then  he  has  continually  added  mares 
of  choicest  breeding  and  superior  individiual  qualties,  his  latest 
additions  of  this  character  being  16  mares  recently  imported  from 
England.  His  brood  mares  now  number  about  60,  among  them 
the  dams  of  Roamer,  Great  Britain,  Notasulga,  Hessian,  Johnny 
Blake  and  other  noted  racers. 

After  the  death  of  The  Commoner,  in  1914,  Mr.  Parmer  imported 
from  England  the  richly  bred  Assagai,  who  is  now  the  premier  stallion 
at  Edenwold. 

Edenwold  is  a  beautifully  situated  farm,  easily  accessible  by  all 
means  of  conveyance,  and  no  visitor  has  to  halloa  at  the  front  gate 
more  than  once  to  bring  a  cordial  greeting  from  the  hospitable 
proprietor. 


INDEX 


American     Bible    Society    gets 

race  winnings,  132 
American  Turf  Register,   15-17 
English  Stakes,  The  Derby,  The 

Oaks,     The     Doncaster     St. 

Leger,  10,  n 

Four-mile  runners,  signs  of  dis- 
appearance, 12,  17 

Height  of  famous  horses,  33 

Importations,  opposition  to,  63. 

67;    results  of  opposition,  77, 

81,  82;    results  to  Tennessee 

stock,  72 
Importations     into     Tennessee, 

93;  into  Alabama,  127 

Jockeys,  noted,  Gil  Patrick,  61, 
169;  Samuel  Purdy,  156, 
162,  262;  Willis,  169,  172; 
Arthur  Taylor,  61,  158,  173; 
Green  Berry  Williams,  178, 
232-8;  Monkey  Simon,  250- 
2,  268-270 

Mares,  imported,  before  and 
after  Revolution,  33,  34;  in 
Tennessee,  92 

Match  races,,  methods  of  ar- 
ranging, 13,  14 

Names  of  horses  reflected  events 
of  times,  15 

North  Alabama  Breeding  Es- 
tablishments, 124-28,  165,  et 


North  and  South  Matches, 
origin,  151;  how  score  stood 
in  1834,  153;  in  1845,  2°8; 
excitement  over,  155,  157, 
159,  161,  169,  182,  210,  211 

Pedigrees,  how  preserved  before 
days  of  stud  books,  16 

Prices  for  young  stock  and  for 
service  of  stallions,  compari- 
sons, 94,  95 

Purses,  size  of,  12 

Races,  in  Virginia,  before  Revo- 
lution, 4;  after  Revolution, 
232,  et  seq. 

Races,  popular  interest  and  ex- 
citement aroused,  155,  157, 
161,  169,  177,  182,  187-190, 

I98-2OO,  2IO,  211 

Race  courses,  natural  outgrowth 
of  conditions,  4;  number  in 
U.  S.  in  1839,  9;  absolutely 
necessary,  3 

Racing  districts,  12 

Spirit  oj  the  Times,  The,  15-17 
Stallions,  number  of  in  U.  S.  in 
1839,     10;     rank    of,    66-73; 
native    and    imported,    com- 
parisons, 66,  68 

Stallions  of  1883,  tracings  of  to 
Sir  Archy,  American  Eclipse, 
Glencoe,  Leviathan  and  Luz- 
borough,  82,  83 


290 


Index 


Stallions  in  Tennessee,  between 
1788  and  1800,  42-4,  adn. 
D;  between  1800  and  1810, 
44~~53»  adn.  D;  between 
1810  and  1820,  53-58,  adn. 
D;  between  1820  and  1830, 
58-65;  between  1830  and 
1840,  73-92;  subsequent  to 
1840,  93,  adn.  F 

Sumner  County,  her  pioneer 
breeders  and  foundation  stock, 
96-113;  celebrated  produce, 
101-112;  produced  first  3- 
year  old  in  U.  S.  to  sell  for  as 
much  as  $8,000;  her  breeders 
and  stock  of  later  period, 
112-120 

Tennessee,  adaptability  to  rais- 
ing horses,  i,  96;  English 
writer's  opinion,  adn.  G; 
her  horses  of  same  families  as 
English  horses  of  same  period, 
10-12,  72,  1 66,  197,  198,  adn. 
B,  adn.  I;  supply  depot  for 
Southern  States,  7,  8,  17, 
104-110;  all  her  horses  de- 
scendants of  three  English 
corner  stones,  43,  44. 

Thoroughbred,  origin  of,  18; 
live  lines  of  descent,  23-9; 
modern  illustrations  of  these 
lines,  93,  94 

Thoroughbred,  his  contribution 
to  development  and  material 
interests  of  South,  8;  his 
influence  on  customs  and 
habits  of  the  people,  1-5,  70; 
his  adaptability  to  war,  5;  his 
influence  on  other  blood  stock 
industries,  8,  9,  17;  moved 


Westward  with  star  of  empire, 
5;  and  beat  the  Constitution 
to  Tennessee,  42,  43,  adn.  B 

Time,  best  4-mile  up  to  1874, 
adn.  E;  average  running  in 
1838,  27;  best  3-mile  up  to 
1835,  adn.  C;  results  from 
improved  tracks,  263 

Trainers,  noted,  Sidney  Bur- 
bridge,  176,  178;  A.  L. 
Hammond,  166,  172;  Arthur 
Taylor,  61;  Green  Berry 
Williams,  see  Jockeys;  Capt. 
John  Belcher,  61 

War,  1861-65,  effect  of  on 
thoroughbred  industry,  84; 
comparisons,  83,  94,  95 

Noted  Races  in  addition 

to  those  mentioned  in 

"CONTENTS" 

Angora  and  several  competi- 
tors, 182 

Argyle  and  John  Bascombe,  166 
Ariel  and  Flirtilla,  208 

Bertrand,  Aratus  and  Creeping 

Kate,  adn.  C 
Boston  and  Fashion,  208 
Boyd     McNairy,     Picton     and 

Osceola,  191 

Doublehead  and  Expectation, 
245 

Greyhound  and  Tanner,  242 
Greyhound   and   Truxton,    241, 
245,  246 

Haynie's  Maria  and  many  com- 
petitor 5,25  8 
Hiawatha  and  Mary  Wyllie,  117 


Index 


291 


Polly  Medley  and  Indian  Queen, 

239-40 
Ploughboy  and  Truxton,  38-50, 

242 

Sir  Henry  Tonson  and  several 
competitors,  103 

The  Alabama  Stake,  at  Nash- 
ville, adn.  I 

The  Barry  Sweepstake,  at  Galla- 
tin,  in 

The  Cumberland  Stake,  at  Nash- 
ville, adn.  I 

The  Trial  Stake,  at  Nashville, 
adn.  I 

Wagner  and  Grey  Eagle,  112 
Walk-in-the-Water  and  various 
competitors,  254-5 

Tennessee    Jockey    Clubs,    Race 
Tracks  and  Race  Meetings 

Bean's  Station,  128,  148 
Bledsoe's  Creek,  130 
Bolivar,  128,  145 

Cage's  Bend,  262 
Cairo,  102,  221 
Clarksville,  128,  133,  144 
Clover  Bottom,  128 
Columbia,  128 
Cryer's,  98 

Dresden,  128,  134 

Fayetteville,  128,  130 
Franklin,  128,  130,  133,  141 

Gallatin,  128,  130,  134-141 
Goose  Creek,  248 

Hartsville,  128,  134 
Jackson,  128,  134 


LaGrange,  128,  134 

Madisonville,  18,  128 
Mansker's  Creek,  130 
McMinnville,  128,  145 
Memphis,  128,  147 
Mt.  Pleasant,  128,  133,  142-4 
Murfreesboro,  128,  133,  145 

Nashville,  128,  130,  131,  134 

Paris,  128,  133,  134 
Petersburg,  128,  134 
Pulaski,  128,  130 

Red  Bridge,  18,  128,  148 

Shelby  ville,  128,  130 
Somerville,  128,  146 

Wilson  County,  130 
Winchester,  128,  133 

Some  oj  The  Notables 

Ainsworth,  William,  14,  91 
Alderson,  Thomas,  84-6,  90 
Alexander,  W.  L.,  88 

Barry,  R.  D.,  97,  240 

Barry,  Thomas,  84,  87,  88,  114, 

184,  187,  191 

Bell,  Montgomery,  63,  122 
Burford,  David,  88 

Cage,     Jesse,     119,     201;      his 

horses,  120 
Cage,  Reuben,  51 
Campbell,  Colin,  64 
Cannon,  Newton,  245,  268 
Carrick,  S.  V.,  90 
Carroll,  Gov.  William,  57,  123, 

131,  268 
Cheatham,  L.  P.,  78,  79,  87,  89, 

120,  201,  adn.  F 
Childress,  John,  56,  262 
Claiborne,  Thomas,  85 


Index 


Clark,  Rev.  Martin,  90,  adn.  H 

Clay,  Henry,  5,  179 

Cockrill,  M.  R.,  9 

Colernan,  Joseph,  5 1 

Cook,  Henry,  88 

Cook,  Hal.,  90 

Cotton,  Arthur,  88 

Cryer,  James,  87,  97,  98 

Cryer,  Rev.  Hardy  M.,  15,  79, 
85,  86,  87,  89,  91,  100,  114- 
16,  184,  187,  266;  his  letters 
from  Jackson,  271;  lists  of 
those  who  patronized  his 
stallions,  adn.  H 

Davie,  A.  J.,  39,  48,  122 
Desha,  Robert,  i,  92,  175 
Donelson,  A.  J.,   89,    166,    167, 
243 

Elliott,  George,  54,  56,  64,  67, 
76,  88,  89,  91,  98,  100,  127, 
250,  et  seq.,  267,  269,  273 

Elliston,  Joseph  T.,  64 

Ewing,  Alex,  55,  57,  64 

Foster,  Robert  C.,  51,  53,  57, 

270 
Foxhall,  Thomas,  87,  116 

Gordon,  Francis,  88 
Gowen,  W.  B.,  85 
Guild,   Jo   C.,    87;     his   horses, 
108,  117 

Harding,  John,  57,  63 
Harding,  W.  G.,  3,  6,  63,   121; 

his  horses,  121 
Heiskell,  F.  S.,  90 
Hooper,  I.,  52 
Hurt,  Rev.  Robert,  86,  87,  123 

Jackson,  Andrew,  his  account 
of  Truxton-PIoughboy  race, 


and  his  advertisement  of 
Truxton,  48;  advertises  Paco- 
let,  55;  Young  Truxton,  64; 
Bolivar,  87;  tradition  as  to 
his  riding  races,  98;  how  he 
was  like  Col.  W.  R.  Johnson, 
154;  his  methods  of  training, 
1 66;  turf  activities  while 
president,  167,  243,  274;  at 
Gallatin  races,  240,  248;  at 
Hartsville  races,  241,  245; 
at  Clover  Bottom,  246,  249; 
efforts  to  beat  Haynie's 
Maria, 55,  259,  260;  his  knowl- 
edge of  governmental  affairs 
and  horses  compared,  181; 
"sassed"  by  Monkey  Simon, 
269;  his  letters  to  Rev.  H. 
M.  Cryer,  271-4;  his  quarrel 
with  Newton  Cannon,  247; 
his  opposition  to  race  suicide, 
125,  126;  his  orders  to  Van 
Buren,  Balie  Peyton  and 
others,  243,  et  seq;  one  of 
promoters  of  Nashville  Jockey 
Club,  268 
Jackson,  James,  9,  56,  67,  76, 

88,  124,  184,  268 
Jefferson,  Thomas,  5,  35,  38 
Johnson,  William  R.,  39,  55,  60, 
61,  104,  151,  167 

Kirkman  Brothers,  92,  126 
Kirkman,  Hugh,  138,  139,  140 
Kirkman,  John,  212 
Kirkman,  Thomas,  201 

Lee,  Gen.  H.,  35 
Lewis,  Joel,  52 

Mabry,  J.  A.,  90,  107,  118,  179 
Martin,  Rev.  A.,  adn.  H 
Martin,  Thomas,  91,  adn.  A 


Index 


293 


McGavock,  D.,  50 
McNairy,  Dr.,  57,  268 
Miller,  F.  H.  C,  adn.  F 
Murray,  Ennis,  86 

Newsom,  A.  B.,  59,  89,  101,  108 
Nolen,  A.  T.,  86,  89,  161 

Page,  Absalom,  adn.  D 
Paine,  Rev.  Robert,  adn.  H 
Parmer,  Walter  O.,  45,  94.  adn.  J 
Peyton,  Balie,  84,  86,  108,  in, 

179,  192,  199;  his  horses,  118, 

119 

Peyton,  R.  H.,  89,  1 19 
Peyton,  W.  R.,  119 
Phillips,  Joseph,  50 
Phillips,  W.  D.,  65 
Pillow,  William,  85 
Pitts,  Rev.  Fountain  E.,  adn.  H 
Polk,  L.  J.,  84,  85,  92,  122,  188, 

192 

Polk,  R.  K.,  92 
Polk,  George  W.,  113 

Randolph,  John,  5;  at  Eclipse- 
Henry  race,  159;  his  tribute 
to  Samuel  Purdy,  162;  Green 
Berry  Williams'  opinion  of,  236 

Robertson,  James,  45,  adn.  D 

Sappington,  Dr.  Roger  B.,  58, 

266,  et  seq. 
Saunders,    Rev.    Hubbard,    55, 

84,  85,  99,  100,  116 
Saunders,  W.  R.,  91 
Scruggs,  James,  14,  148 
Shelby,  Dr.  John,  57,  268,  269 
Shelby,  Orville,  58,  65,  97,  99. 

adn.  H 

Shute,  John,  52,  57,  63 
Sumner,  Duke  W.,  86,  90,  92, 

124 


Swanson,  James,  73,  adn.  F 
Tayloe,  John,  33,  35,  36,  39 

Ward,  Edward,  53 
Washington,  George,  5,  35,  228 
Weakley,  Robert,  51,  53,    122, 

adn.  D 
Williams,    William,    51,     52-6, 

131,  268;  his  horses,  120 
Wyllie,  Geo.  A.,  76,  112 

Yourie,  Alex  P.,  112,  191 

Material  References  to  Important 
Horses 

Actaeon,  93,  adn.  B 

Ainderby,  71,  84 

Albion,  93,  113,  adn.  B 

Alborak,  adn.  D 

Alcaster  (or  Akaster)  Turk,   19 

Alcock  Arabian,  19 

Alpheus,  adn.  D 

Amanda,  38,  237 

Ambassador,  93,  adn.  I 

Andrew  Jackson,  89 

Angora,  105,  107,  I77»  182 

Anvil  (Herod),  33 

Anvil  (Mons  Tonson),  84 

Anvilina,  33 

Apollo,  32 

Arab,  84 

Ariel,  74,  85,  208 

Argyle,  104,  166 

Aristotle,  32 

Arminda,  36 

Atalanta,  109,  118 

Augusta,  34 

Autocrat,  71,  84 

Babraham,  23,  28,  32-5,  37 

Bagdad,  63 

Bald  Galloway,  22,  23,  30 


294 


Index 


Barefoot,  adn.  F 

Baronet,  50,  adn.  D 

Bashaw,  57 

Basto,  20,  22 

Bay  Diomed,  64 

Bedford,  38,  adn.  C 

Beeswing,  101,  108 

Behemoth,  84 

Bellair  (Cook's),  57 

Bellair  (Medley),  37 

Bellair  (Sir  Archy),  89 

Belgrade  Turk,  19,  34 

Belshazzar,  84,  277 

Belsize  Arabian,  32 

Beningbrough,  29,  75 

Bertrand,  40,  69-73,  adn.  C 

Betsey  Malone,  105,  253 

Betty  Leedes,  21 

Betty  Percival,  37 

Big  Quicksilver,  5 1 

Birmingham,  101,  106 

Black-and-all-BIack  (Weak- 
ley's),  122 

Black  Maria,  74,  109,  194,   199 

Black  Sophia,  100,  101,  130 

Blank,  22,  24,  28,  37,  adn.  C 

Blaze,  21,  22,  33 

Blazella,  33 

Bloody  Buttocks  Greyhound, 
3i 

Bloody  Flag,  51 

Blossom,  31,  265 

Bluster,  63 

Boaster,  57 

Bolivar,  38,  87,  273 

Bolivia,  167,  243-5 

Bompard,  52;  see  also  241 

Bonnets  O'BIue,  209 

Bosphorus,  28,  39 

Boston,  61,  69-73,  109,  208,  237, 
adn.  C 


Boyd  McNairy,  no 

Brilliant,  43 

Brimmer,  19,  26,  30,  31 

Brimmer  (Clubfoot),  43 

Brittania,  34 

Brownlow  Turk,  22 

Bryan  O'Lynn,  57 

Bucephalus,  53 

Buoy,  alias  Buford's  Defeat,  51, 

100 

Burrampooter,  50 
Busirus,  243 

Buzzard,  24,  90,  166,  adn.  B 
Byerly  Turk,  20,  23 

Cade,  22-4 

Cade  (Fearnought),  51 

Cain,  93,  adn.  B 

Careless,  21,  23 

Careless  (Regulus),  28 

Carolinian,  85 

Cartouch,  19,  33 

Castianira,  39 

Celer,  31 

Champion,  100,  241 

Chanticleer,  51 

Chatham,  38 

Chatham,  43 

Cherokee,  40 

Chesterfield,  89 

Childers  (Bartlett's)  20,  22,  23, 

34 

Citizen,  55,  56 
Citizen  (Stockholder),  89 
Claret,  adn.  F 
Clockfast,  6 1,  adn.  C 
Cock  of  the  Rock,  88 
Coeur  de  Lion,  50 
Collector,  adn.  D 
Commutation,  32 
Comus,  113,  adn.  B 


Index 


295 


Conductor,  26,  34,  adn.  B 

Conqueror,  57 

Constitution,  63 

Contention,  38 

Coronet,  89 

Cost  Johnson,  1 19 

Count  Badger,  89 

Crab,    19,    24,    28,    31,    32,    37, 

39 

Cramp,  89 
Crawler,  50 
Cripple,  22,  34,  36 
Crusader,  85,  274 
CuIIen  Arabian,  28,  32,  34 
Cumberland,  64 
Curwen's  Bay  Barb,  19,  23 
Cygnet,  24 

Daniel  O'Connell,  109 
D'Arcy  Royal  Mare,  24 
D'Arcy  White  Turk,  26 
D'Arcy  Yellow  Turk,  19 
Dare  Devil,  50,  237 
Darley  Arabian,  19,  20,  23 
Delpini,  84 
Dick  Andrews,  78,  84 
Dimple,  23,  32 
Diomed,  37-9,  166 
Diomed  (Ragland's),  53 
Diomed  (Second),  53 
Diomedon,  53 
Dismal,  22,  23,  32 
Don  Quixote,  28 
Dormouse,  22,  23,  33 
Doublehead,  50 
Dragon,  57 
Dragon  (Cage's),  51 
Dungannon,  28,  38 
Dungannon  (Bradley's),  259 
Dungannon,  imp,  52 
Duroc,  38,  73 


Eagle,  38,  63 

Eclipse,    American,    68,    69-74, 

82,  adn.  F 

Eclipse  (by  Hall's  Eclipse),  51 
Eclipse  (Hall's),  28,  38 
Eclipse  (Harris'),  32,  120 
Eclipse  (O'Kelly's),  21,  23,  26, 

27,  29,  33,  34 
Eleanor,  75,  78 
Election,  85,  90 
Emilius,  75 
Emu,  93 
Espersykes,  93 

Fanny  Bell,  no 

Favorite,  34 

Fearnought,  32,  120 

Fearnought  (Dandridge's),  32 

Fitz-Medley,  51 

Fitz-Partner,  31 

Flint,  89 

Flirtilla,  34 

Flirtilla  (Sir  Archy),  40,  61,  208 

Florizel,  24,  37 

Florizel,  alias  Grey  tail,  57 

Florizel  (Ball's),  38,  48,  61,  236, 

237 
Flying  Childers,  20,  21,  25,  27, 

33 

Fop,  85,  adn.  F 
Fortuna,  101 
Fortunatus,  adn.  D 
Fox,  20,  22,  23,  30,  33 
Frozenhead,  89 

Gallatin,  53,  54,  adn.  C 

Gamma,  121,  241 

Gander,  87 

Gaston,  89 

Giles  Scroggins,  85 

Gimcrack,  36,  adn.  C 

Gimcrack  (Medley),  36 


296 


Index 


Glencoe,    69-73,    79,    82,    195, 

adn.  B 
Glenroy,  89 

Godolphin  Arabian,  19-24 
Gohanna,  29 
Gohanna  (Sir  Archy),  40 
Gold  Boy,  89 
Gower  Stallion,  23,  33 
Gracchus  (Randolph's),  32 
Great  Britain,  94 
Gresley's  Arabian,  32 
Grey  Archy,  89 

Grey  Diomed  (Barksdale's),  52 
Grey    Diomed    (imp    Diomed), 

38 
Grey    Diomed     (imp    Medley), 

38,73 

Grey  Eagle,  69-73,  112 
Grey  Grantham,  22,  37 
Grey  Medley,  44,  240 
Grey  Robinson,  22 
Gun  Powder,  90 

Hautboy,  26 

Havoc,  90 

Helmsly  Turk,  19,  32 

Henry,  38,  40,  74,  155,  159 

Hephestion,  90 

Herod,  imp,  52 

Herod,  or  King  Herod,  23,  24, 

28,  33,  34 

Hiawatha,  117,  118 
Highflyer,  24,  25,  29,  34,  38 
Highflyer  (Wildair),  32 
Highlander,  90 
Highlander,  imp,  52 
Hortensia,  no 
Hugh  Lawson  White,  90,  107 

Imperator,  26,  adn.  B 
Industry,  40,  118,  adn.  C 
Isabella,  40,  83 


Jackson,  57 
Janus,  22,  28 
Janus,  imp,  30,  120 
Jefferson,  88 
Jenny  Cameron,  33 
Jenny  Dismal,  32 
Jerry,  88,  101 
Jigg,  20,  23,  33 
Jim  Polk,  no 
Joe  Andrews,  78 
John  Dawson,  88 
John  Malone,  no 
John  Richards,  40,  154 
Jolly  Roger,  30,  33 
Juniper,  32,  adn.  C 
Justice,  32 

King  Fergus,  28,  75 
King  Herod  (Fearnought),  32 
Kitty  Fisher,  33 
Kosciusko,  40 

Laburnam,  43 

Lady  Lightfoot,  40,  60 

Lady  Nashville,  167,  245 

LaFayette,  90 

Lap  Dog,  88,  183 

Lath,  22,  23 

Lavinia,  109 

Layton  Barb  Mare,  31 

Leadall,  43 

Leedes'  Arabian,  20,  37 

Leviathan,  4,  8,  69-73,  75,  82, 

112,  184,  adn.  F 
Leviathan,  Jr.,  90 
Lexington,  62,  237,  adn.  E 
Lindsay  Arabian,  34 
Linnet,  106 
Lottery,  90 
Lurcher,  90 
Luzborough,  4,  70,  71,  78,  184, 

195 


Index 


297 


Macedonian,  90 

Madam  Bosley,  124 

Madam  Tonson,  100,  115 

Madison,  38 

Magnolia,  35 

Makeless,  20,  24,  30,  31 

Mambrino,  89 

Manuella,  84,  85 

Margrave,  71,  85 

Maria  (Haynie's),  264 

Maria  Shepherd,  118,  194 

Marion,  40 

Mark  Anthony,  31 

Marlborough,  35 

Marshal  Ney,  89 

Marshall,  or  Sellaby,  Turk,   19 

Marske,  23,  33,  35,  adn.  B 

Mary  Gray  (Roundhead),  33 

Mary  Gray  (Tippoo  Saib),  241 

Matchem,  23,  25,  29,  34 

Matchless,  22 

Matchless  (Fearnought),  32 

Matilda,  124 

Medley,  32,  36,  37,  adn.  C 

Medoc,  4,  69-74 

Melli  Melli,  90 

Melzar,  36 

Mercury,  27 

Mercury  (Sir  Archy),  90 

Merman,  89 

Merry  Tom,  32 

Messina,  57 

Mingo,  74 

Mons  Tonson,  72,  100,  101,  241 

Montagu  (old),  26 

Monticello,  38 

Mordecai,  90 

Morgiana,  101 

Mucklejohn,  40 

Muley,  75,  85,  adn.  B 

Muzzle  Diomed,  63 


Nancy  Bywell,  34 
Napoleon,  64 
Narcissa  Parrish,  no 
Nashville,  64 

Obscurity,  28,  86 
Oglethorpe  Arabian,  20 
O'Kelly,  85 
O' Possum  Filly,  87,  88 
Orphan  Boy,  91 
Orville,  75 

Oscar  (Tennessee),  57,  266 
Othello,      alias      Black-and-all- 
Black,  28,  31,  32,  35 

Pacific,  86,  193 

Pacolet,  33 

Pacolet  (Citizen),  55,  241 

Paget's  Turk,  37 

Pantaloon,  imp,  34,  83 

Pantaloon      (imp,      Pantaloon) 

adn.  D 
Papillon,  25 
Parasol,  101 
Partner    (Croft's),    19,    22,    23, 

25,  30,  31.  36,  37 
Partner  (Morton's  Traveller),  31 
Partnership,  91 
Peacemaker,  64,  237,  adn.  C 
Pegasus,  28,  34,  63 
Peggy,  34 

Phenomenon,  adn.  D 
Philip,  86 
Phoenix,  58 

Picton,  83,  185,  et  seq.,  adn.  F 
Pirate,  40 

Place's  White  Turk,  19,  31 
Plenipotentiary,  75,  adn.  B 
Ploughboy,  45,  241 
Post  Boy,  83,  adn.  F 
Pot8os,  28,  34,  87,  88,  adn.  B 
Potomac,  38 


298 


Index 


President,  52,  adn.  D 

Priam,  n,  12,  69,  73,  75,  adn. 

B,  adn.  F 

Priam  (imp  Leviathan),  91 
Prince,  34 
Puzzle,  adn.  F 

Queen  of  Trumps,  100 
Quicksilver,  36 

Rachel,  24 

Rainbow,  43 

Ranter,  32 

Ratler  (Thornton's),  86 

Raven,  43 

Reality,  40,  60 

Regulus,  22,  24-6,  28,  31,  32 

Regulus  (Fearnought),  32 

Roanoke,  adn.  F 

Robin  Adair,  91 

Robin  Hood,  91 

Robin  Redbreast,  34,  86 

Rockingham,  25,  39 

Rockingham  (Partner),  31 

Rodney,  52 

Romulus,  91 

Roundhead,  22,  30,  33 

Rosey  Clack,  99,  100 

Rowton,  93,  adn.  B 

Royal  Barb  Mare,  24,  32 

Royalist,  50 

Roxana,  22 

Rubens,  adn.  B 

Sacklowie,  93 

Sally  Gee,  40 

Sally  Hope,  40,  adn.  C 

Saltram,  28,  34 

Sampson,  21 

Sarah  Bladen,  105,  185,  253 

Saxe  Weimer,  91 

Scota,  28,  84 

Scythian,  93 


Seagull,  imp,  34 

Sea  Gull  (Sir  Archy),  40 

Second,  22,  33 

Selim,  24,  79,  adn.  B 

Selim  (Othello),  32 

Selima,  35,  37 

Shakespeare,  86,  adn.  F 

Shamrock,  93,  adn.  B 

Shark  (American  Eclipse),  adn. 

F 

Shark  (Marske),  35,  38 
Sir  Alfred,  38 
Sir  Andrew,  91 
Sir  Archy,  38,  39-41,  66-9,  82, 

adn.  C 
Sir  Archy,  Jr.,  alias  Montorio, 

alias,    Out-ofrTr  an  sport,    40, 

176 

Sir  Arthur,  40 
Sir  Charles,  36,  40,  41,  69-73, 

1 1 8,  adn.  C 
Sir  Harry,  64 
Sir  Henry  Tonson,  87,  100,  103, 

241 

Sir  James,  64 
Sir    Richard   Tonson,    87,    100, 

103,  241 
Sir    Peter   Teazle,    25,    28,    34, 

adn.  B 
Sir    Peter    Teazle     (Sir     Peter 

Teazle),  34 

Sir  William  (Clay's),  64 
Sir  William-out-of-Transport,  40 
Sir  William    (Richardson's),   64 
Skylark,  91 
Skylark,  imp,  87 
Sloe,  28,  31,  adn.  B 
Smolensko,  86 
Snake,  19,23,  26 
Snap,  22,  28,  34,  36 
Snap,  imp,  34 


Index 


299 


Snip,  22 

Snipe,  34 

Soothsayer,  adn.  B 

Sorcerer,  87,  93,  adn.  B 

Soreheels,  19,  22,  24 

Sour  Grout,  50 

Sovereign,  69-73 

Spadille,  34 

Spanker,  19,  23,  37 

Spanking  Roger,  22 

Spark,  31 

Spectator,  37 

Squirrel,  19,  26 

Squirt,  19,  23 

Star,  34 

Starling,  34 

Sterling,  32 

St.  George,  34 

St.  Giles,  91 

St.  Patrick,  93,  adn.  B 

St.  Paul,  34 

St.  Victor  Barb,  22 

Stockholder,  58,  271 

Straddling,  or  Lister,  Turk,   19 

Strickland  Turk,  19 

Stumps,  93,  adn.  B 

Stump-the-Dealer    (Bryan 

O'Lynn),  58 

Stump-the-Dealer  (Diomed),  38 
Sultan,  24,  79,  adn.  B 
Sumpter,  40 
Sweeper,  28 
Swiss,  92 

Talleyrand,  91 

Tariff,  40 

Tartar,  23,  27,  28,  33,  34 

Telegraph,  91 

TenerifFe,  93 

The  Poney,  108 

Thoulouse  Barb,  19 


Timoleon,  59 
Tobacconist,  91 
Top  Gallant,  53 
Tramp,  79,  91,  adn.  B 
Traveller,  13,  91 
Traveller  (Morton's),  31 
Trentham,  39 
Trifle,  109,  118 
Trumpator,  26,  34,  87,  adn.  B 
Trustee,  69-73 
Truxton,  48,  241,  242 
Tup,  53 

Vampire,  32 
Vanity,  40 

Velocipede,  84,  adn.  B 
Vertumnus,  28,  34 
Ving'tun,  92 
Virago,  28 

Virginia  LaFayette,  40 
Virginian,  36,  40 
Virginius,  38 
Volante,  34 
Volney,  93,  adn.  F 
Volunteer,  27,  34,  58,  63 
Volunteer  (Volunteer),  53 

Wacousta,  92 

Wagner,  69-72,  112 

Walton,  92 

Warlock  Galloway,  39 

Washington  (Comet),  adn.  D 

Washington  (Pacolet),  65 

Waxy,  88 

Whale,  87 

Whalebone,  87,  88 

Whisker,  88,  92 

Whiskey,  63,  adn.  B 

Whynot,  32,  45,  adn.  D 

Wildair  (Symmes'),  32 

Wildair  (Weakley's),  53,  adn.  D 

Wild  Bill,  87 


300  Index 

Wonder  (Wilkes'),  54  Young  Medley,  36,  65 

Woodpecker,  24,  29,  34  Young  Northumberland,  43 
Woodpecker  (Bertrand),  4,  112,      Young  Sir  Charles,  92 

1 66  Young  St.  George,  43 

Young  Cade,  38  ^°ung  I™3*™'  6* 

Young  Celah,  adn.  D  Young  Virginian  92 

Young  Cyron,  adn.  D  YounS  Wonder'  6$ 

Young  Diomed,  52,  adn.  D  Zamor,  92 

Young  McKinney  Roan,  52  Zelina,  107 


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69G611 


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